Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
प्राणग्लहोऽयं समर इष्वक्षो वाहनासन: । अत्र न ज्ञायतेऽमुष्य जयोऽमुष्य पराजय: ॥ १७ ॥
prāṇa-glaho ’yaṁ samara iṣv-akṣo vāhanāsanaḥ atra na jñāyate ’muṣya jayo ’muṣya parājayaḥ
Ó inimigo, considera esta batalha como um jogo de apostas: as vidas são a aposta, as flechas são os dados e os animais que servem de montaria são o tabuleiro. Ninguém pode saber quem será derrotado ou vitorioso; tudo depende da providência.
FAQs
In this verse, Vṛtrāsura says battle is like a life-and-death gamble—arrows are the dice—so one cannot be certain who will win or lose.
To highlight the unpredictability of outcomes in combat and to frame the encounter as a fearless acceptance of destiny, rather than pride in assured victory.
Do your duty with courage and integrity, but remain detached from outcomes—success and failure are not always controllable, so steadiness of mind matters most.