FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.12.17

प्राणग्लहोऽयं समर इष्वक्षो वाहनासन: । अत्र न ज्ञायतेऽमुष्य जयोऽमुष्य पराजय: ॥ १७ ॥
prāṇa-glaho ’yaṁ samara
[praana-glaho ’yam samara]
iṣv-akṣo vāhanāsanaḥ
[ishv-aksho vaahanaasanah]
atra na jñāyate ’muṣya
[atra na jnaayate ’mushya]
jayo ’muṣya parājayaḥ
[jayo ’mushya paraajayah]
Word-for-word
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 jñāyate — is known amuṣya — of that one jayaḥ — victory amuṣya — of that one parājayaḥ — defeat.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prāṇa-glaho ’yaṁ samara
prāṇa-glahaḥ
life is the stake
iṣv-akṣo vāhanāsanaḥ
atra na jñāyate ’muṣya
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
jñāyate
is known
amuṣya
of that one
jayo ’muṣya parājayaḥ
jayaḥ
victory
amuṣya
of that one
parājayaḥ
defeat.
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.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
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.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Consider this battle a gambling match — lives the stakes, arrows the dice, carriers the board. No one can tell who will win; that is the supreme controller's affair. The most serious enterprise is treated with playful detachment.
Reflection Questions
  • Could I treat my biggest battle as a game whose outcome belongs to the Lord?
  • What lightness would that bring without lowering effort?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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