SB 6.12.17 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

प्राणग्लहोऽयं समर इष्वक्षो वाहनासन: । अत्र न ज्ञायतेऽमुष्य जयोऽमुष्य पराजय: ॥ १७ ॥

Verse text

prāṇa-glaho ’yaṁ samara iṣv-akṣo vāhanāsanaḥ atra na jṣāyate ’muṣya jayo ’muṣya parājayaḥ

Synonyms

prāṇa — glahaḥ — life is the stake ; ayam — this ; samaraḥ — battle ; iṣu — akṣaḥ — the arrows are the dice ; vāhana — āsanaḥ — the carriers such as the horses and elephants are the game board ; atra — here (in this gambling match) ; na — not ; jṣāyate — is known ; amuṣya — of that one ; jayaḥ — victory ; amuṣya — of that one ; parājayaḥ — defeat .

Translation

O my enemy, consider this battle a gambling match in which our lives are the stakes, the arrows are the dice, and the animals acting as carriers are the game board. No one can understand who will be defeated and who will be victorious. It all depends on providence.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Consider this battle a gambling match in which our lives are the stakes, the arrows are the dice, and the animals acting as carriers are the game board. No one can understand who will be defeated and who will be victorious. This battle is a gambling match. It is impossible for gamblers to give up this game, though they may find faults in it. Life is the stake. The arrows are the dice. The carriers like elephants are the game board.