Shloka 19
मूर्थ्नि स्थितममित्राणां जीवतामेव संजय । दत्ता दाया यथाशक्ति मित्राणां च प्रियं कृतम्
mūrdhni sthitam amitrāṇāṃ jīvatām eva saṃjaya | dattā dāyā yathāśakti mitrāṇāṃ ca priyaṃ kṛtam ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi Sañjaya, khi kẻ thù còn sống, ta đã đứng trên họ trong thế chủ tể; ta đã phân chia phần lộc và ban tặng theo sức mình, và cũng đã làm điều khiến bằng hữu vui lòng.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes worldly dominance over foes with social-ethical duties: even amid conflict, one should distribute resources fairly within one’s means and maintain loyalty by doing what benefits friends and allies.
In Sañjaya’s narration, a speaker reflects on having held a position of superiority over enemies while they yet lived, and on having allotted portions/gifts as far as possible, while also acting to please and support friends—summarizing conduct in power during wartime.