श्री भगवानुवाचकालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धोलोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः ।
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वेयेऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वेयेऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥
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 ॥
English
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.
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
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna trembles before the cosmic form. Krishna answers from within that vision, not as a counselor but as the force behind time itself. He tells Arjuna the opposing warriors are already doomed, and his role is no longer to decide fate.
Why this verse still matters
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.
Word-by-word translation
श्री भगवानुवाच (the Blessed Lord said) / कालः (Time) / अस्मि (I am) / लोकक्षयकृत् (maker of the destruction of worlds) / प्रवृद्धः (grown mighty) / लोकान् (the worlds / beings) / समाहर्तुम् (to gather up / destroy) / इह (here) / प्रवृत्तः (set in motion / come forth) / ऋते (without) / अपि (even) / त्वाम् (you) / न (not) / भविष्यन्ति (will exist) / सर्वे (all) / ये (who) / अवस्थिताः (standing) / प्रत्यनीकेषु (in the opposing ranks) / योधाः (warriors)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga — The Universal Form, which contains 55 verses.
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses)