In Bhagavad Gita 11.32, Krishna says he is mighty Time, the destroyer of worlds, now engaged in destroying them; even without Arjuna, none of the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will survive.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे
येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥ ११-३२ ॥
kālo’smi lokakṣayakṛtpravṛddho
lokānsamāhartumiha pravṛttaḥ
ṛte’pi tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve
ye’vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ
English transliteration kaalo’smi lokakshayakritpravriddho
lokaansamaahartumiha pravrittah
rite’pi tvaam na bhavishyanti sarve
ye’vasthitaah pratyaneekeshu yodhaah ॥ 11.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: I am Time, grown mighty, the destroyer of worlds, now engaged here in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies shall live.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कालः kālaḥ | Time |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| लोकक्षयकृत् lokakṣayakṛt | destroyer of worlds loka (worlds) + kṣaya (destruction) + kṛt (maker) |
| प्रवृद्धः pravṛddhaḥ | grown mighty |
| लोकान् lokān | worlds |
| समाहर्तुम् samāhartum | to destroy |
| इह iha | here |
| प्रवृत्तः pravṛttaḥ | engaged |
| ऋते ṛte | without |
| अपि api | even |
| त्वाम् tvām | you |
| न na | not |
| भविष्यन्ति bhaviṣyanti | shall live |
| सर्वे sarve | all |
| ये ye | who |
| अवस्थिताः avasthitāḥ | arrayed |
| प्रत्यनीकेषु pratyanīkeṣu | in the opposing armies |
| योधाः yodhāḥ | warriors |
Word-wise Chanting
- kā–lo–‘smi lo–ka–kṣa–ya–kṛt–pra–vṛd–dho 11 syllables kaa-lo-‘smi lo-ka-ksha-ya-krit-pra-vrid-dho
- lo–kān–sa–mā–har–tu–mi–ha pra–vṛt–taḥ | 11 syllables lo-kaan-sa-maa-har-tu-mi-ha pra-vrit-tah
- ṛ–te–‘pi tvāṃ na bha–viṣ–yan–ti sar–ve 11 syllables ri-te-‘pi tvaam na bha-vish-yan-ti sar-ve
- ye–‘vas–thi–tāḥ prat–ya–nī–ke–ṣu yo–dhāḥ || 11-32 11 syllables ye-‘vas-thi-taah prat-ya-nee-ke-shu yo-dhaah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 32
Context
Krishna answers Arjuna’s question (11.32–11.34).
Meaning
Krishna reveals himself as kāla, Time, at its mightiest, lokakṣaya-kṛt, the destroyer of worlds. The warriors before Arjuna are already destined to die; even if Arjuna does not fight, they will not survive. Time, not Arjuna, is the true agent of their death.
This famous verse shows the Divine as time, the force that brings all things to their end. It removes from Arjuna the illusion that he is the ultimate cause of the outcome.
In Practice
Remember that time carries all things, and use the time you have today for what truly matters.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.