16.13 This I have gained today Krishna speaks
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्
इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्
idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham
idam astīdam api me bhaviṣhyati punar dhanam
“This I have gained today; this wish I shall obtain. This is mine, and this wealth also will be mine.
Explanation
And here the chapter switches into direct speech.
Three verses of it, and they are the most vivid writing in the chapter. This I have gained today; this wish I shall obtain; this wealth also will be mine.
The technique is worth noticing. Having described the disposition from outside for seven verses, the text suddenly lets it speak, and the tally of acquisitions does more than any adjective did.
Going further
Word by word
- idam
- this
- adya
- today
- mayā
- by me
- labdham
- gained
- imam
- this
- prāpsye
- I shall acquire
- manaḥ-ratham
- desire
- idam
- this
- asti
- is
- idam
- this
- api
- also
- me
- mine
- bhaviṣhyati
- in future
- punaḥ
- again
- dhanam
- wealth
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Three verses of direct speech — this I have gained today; that enemy I have killed; who is there like me? — and they are the most vivid writing in the chapter.
The text stops describing and simply lets the voice run. It is a recognisable interior monologue, and the recognition is the argument. No condemnation is added; none is needed.