Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 11 · Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 11.32 कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
श्लोक 11.32
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः ।
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे
येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥
śrībhagavānuvāca |
kālo'smi lokakṣayakṛtpravṛddho
lokānsamāhartumiha pravṛttaḥ |
ṛte'pi tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve
ye'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान बोले: मैं लोकों का नाश करने वाला बढ़ा हुआ काल हूँ और इस समय इन लोगों का संहार करने में लगा हूँ। तुम्हारे बिना भी विरोधी सेनाओं में खड़े ये सब योद्धा नहीं बचेंगे।
Meaning in English
The Blessed Lord said: I am Time, grown mighty, the destroyer of worlds, now engaged in sweeping away these people. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will survive.
Bhagavad Gita 11.32 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कालः अस्मि | kālaḥ asmi | I am Time |
| लोकक्षयकृत् | loka-kṣaya-kṛt | the destroyer of worlds |
| प्रवृद्धः | pravṛddhaḥ | mighty, fully grown |
| लोकान् | lokān | the worlds, these people |
| समाहर्तुम् | samāhartum | to destroy, to withdraw |
| इह प्रवृत्तः | iha pravṛttaḥ | engaged here |
| ऋते अपि त्वाम् | ṛte api tvām | even without you |
| न भविष्यन्ति | na bhaviṣyanti | will not survive |
| सर्वे | sarve | all |
| ये अवस्थिताः | ye avasthitāḥ | who are arrayed |
| प्रत्यनीकेषु | pratyanīkeṣu | in the opposing armies |
| योधाः | yodhāḥ | warriors |
Explanation
I am Time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, now engaged in destroying these people. Even without you, all these warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will cease to be.
Spoken within the awe-inspiring vision of the cosmic form, the verse reveals the Divine as Time, which ends all things. J. Robert Oppenheimer famously recalled a translation of it — "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" — after the first atomic test in 1945. In the next verse Krishna tells Arjuna to be simply his instrument; the outcome is already in God's hands.
भावार्थ
श्री भगवान ने कहा — मैं लोकों का नाश करने वाला बढ़ा हुआ काल हूँ और इस समय इन लोगों का संहार करने में लगा हूँ। तुम्हारे बिना भी विरोधी सेनाओं में खड़े ये सभी योद्धा नहीं बचेंगे।
Living it today
Remember that time takes everything in the end — let that keep you humble and help you use each day well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 11.32?
I am Time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, now engaged in destroying these people. Even without you, all these warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will cease to be.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.32?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 11.32 in daily life?
Remember that time takes everything in the end — let that keep you humble and help you use each day well.
Reflected on verse 11.32?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.