The Blessed Lord said: I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds, here to end all beings. Even without you, the warriors standing in the opposing ranks will not survive.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.32
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले मैं सम्पूर्ण लोकोंका क्षय करनेवाला बढ़ा हुआ काल हूँ और इस समय मैं इन सब लोगोंका संहार करनेके लिये यहाँ आया हूँ । तुम्हारे प्रतिपक्षमें जो योद्धालोग खड़े हैं, वे सब तुम्हारे युद्ध किये बिना भी नहीं रहेंगे ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
श्री भगवानुवाचthe Blessed Lord saidकालःTimeअस्मिI amलोकक्षयकृत्maker of the destruction of worldsप्रवृद्धःgrown mightyइहhereऋतेwithoutअपिevenत्वाम्youनnotभविष्यन्तिwill existसर्वेallयेwhoअवस्थिताःstandingप्रत्यनीकेषुin the opposing ranksयोधाःwarriors
Read literallythe Blessed Lord said · Time · I am · maker of the destruction of worlds · grown mighty · here · without · even · you · not · will exist · all · who · standing · in the opposing ranks · warriors
Understanding the verse
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Krishna names himself Time, the destroyer of worlds, and tells Arjuna the opposing warriors will die even without him.
Krishna reveals that the force of ending is already at work. Arjuna is not being asked to cause death; he is being asked to take part in a battle whose outcome is already decided.
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On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna trembles before the cosmic form. Krishna answers from within that vision, speaking as the force behind time itself. He tells Arjuna the opposing warriors are already doomed, and his role is no longer to decide fate.
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In your life
What it looks like today
You are standing outside a hospital room, about to hear news that will change everything. The moment has already moved beyond your control, and the only honest task left is to face it without pretending otherwise.
The takeaway
“The burden of total control falls away. You are responsible for action, not for commanding life and death.”
Krishna reveals that the force of ending is already at work. Arjuna is not being asked to cause death; he is being asked to take part in a battle whose outcome is already decided.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.32?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.32?
Verse 32 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.32 matter today?
You are standing outside a hospital room, about to hear news that will change everything. The moment has already moved beyond your control, and the only honest task left is to face it without pretending otherwise.
Krishna names himself Time, the destroyer of worlds, and tells Arjuna the opposing warriors will die even without him.
What this verse means
Krishna reveals that the force of ending is already at work. Arjuna is not being asked to cause death; he is being asked to take part in a battle whose outcome is already decided.
Context & commentary
Arjuna trembles before the cosmic form. Krishna answers from within that vision, speaking as the force behind time itself. He tells Arjuna the opposing warriors are already doomed, and his role is no longer to decide fate.
What it looks like today
You are standing outside a hospital room, about to hear news that will change everything. The moment has already moved beyond your control, and the only honest task left is to face it without pretending otherwise.
“The burden of total control falls away. You are responsible for action, not for commanding life and death.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses)