The Timingila Quotes

“I was ready to die for you, but never realized that it was you who will kill me.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Hater you can find in a moment, but it takes an eternity to find a true well-wisher.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“I lived my whole life following others’ wishes. Let me follow my own wish in my death.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“‪The Timingila: A Strange Fish‬

This is the story of an ancient sea,
And the monster, who made everyone flee.
Timingila was a strange fish,
Being free was his only wish.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Never underestimate the power of good food. Eating delicious food can be a life-changing experience.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Power makes people ignore your sins. There is not much difference between acquiring power and achieving sainthood.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“When the people of a state think that violence is normal, then it is a failed state.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Never underestimate the power of weapons. A novice with a powerful weapon is deadlier than a warrior with a stick.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Confronting your enemy in anger feeds your ego, but diminishes your chance of success.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Being a victim doesn’t make one virtuous.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Life is not difficult, it is our desires that make life difficult.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“May you always be true to yourself.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Don’t confuse actions of a ruler as the nature of his people.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“He then stood there as the guards picked up the body of his enemy and carried it away. He stood there for a while, staring at the ground, oblivious of his soldiers cheering at a distance. Suddenly, he felt very tired. Still in a haze, he drifted back to his tent.

Alone in his tent, he lied down and thought of his wife. He thought of the face of the dying old man. He realized that the pursuit of revenge against his enemy had been more satisfying than the actual act of killing him. Nothing had changed. He was still unhappy, and still yearned for his wife.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“They say that if you are born in Sonira, you won't be jealous of heaven -- and if you are born in Igati, you won't be afraid of hell. But for the people of Trishala, their city was their glorious heaven, and it was their living hell.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Some faces can be confusing – looking at them, one
can’t really decide whether they are beautiful or ugly. Tasvak’s face was not one of them. It took just one look to be certain that it is the ugliest face one has ever seen.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“When he was a kid, Tasvak had tried to reason, but could not understand why his stepbrothers kept bullying him. But he had realized one thing very early – that nobody was going to protect him, not even his father.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“The people around Tasvak talked about the festival, how it was less brutal than Igati’s Prahuti, with its tradi- tion of human sacrifice, but not as beautiful as Sonira’s Lolupa-Krish, which marked the yearly harvest, and not as pious as Vanpore’s Dhi, with its plethora of Tapasi rituals. Tasvak had heard about these places since his childhood, and longed to visit them.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“It is an honor for a woman to die in her husband’s pyre, sister,” Kindisha shouted back. “My mother is in the pyre, too. I am proud of her sacrifice. By Sarvabhu’s grace, she will find her place in the heavens.”
“Let me burn you alive, then we will see how much honor you feel through the pain.” Keya was furious, but helpless. Tasvak could feel his sister’s grief, but was aware that Kindisha was merely echoing what the traditions had taught him.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Nachiketa was the commander of the Rongcha army, and the king’s son-in-law. He was so cruel that he had no reason to be ugly, and he was so ugly that he had no reason to be cruel.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Vidari tribals had a long-standing tradition of kidnapping bridegrooms for their daughters. It was a common occurrence – travelers disappeared without a trace, and emerged with a wife and child after months in captivity.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Yashthi’s days of being fooled by his father’s kind appearance were long gone. He had seen his father brutally kill men while looking calm, kind, and pious.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Deep inside the grand Vakshi forest, atop a gigantic rock that reaches the sky, lies the ancient monastery town of Vakshi,” Guru Sarvadni had told a young Tasvak. “Vakshi has monasteries of all the faiths in Jivavarta. It is the most peaceful place I have ever visited.”
Ever since, Tasvak had always wanted to visit Vakshi. But he had never thought that his wish will be fulfilled in such a strange way.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila

“Who is this monk?” asked Tasvak. “Can we trust him?”
“Yes, we can trust him,” assured Sarvadni. “I have known him for some time.”
“Is he your pupil?” asked Tasvak. He was curious.
“No, he is not,” replied Sarvadni. “He will be an awful pupil, but he is a brilliant teacher. He is the founder of his own faith, which he calls Ajabuhi.”
― Shon Mehta, The Timingila