I am Death, the Destroyer

This chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is special. It is quoted and misquoted often in Western media, sometimes for the right, and often for the wrong reasons. This is not reading material. The content is more than visual. It’s experiential. Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna. Krishna knows that whatever he has told Arjuna about himself is insufficient. Krishna gives Arjuna and the reader an immersive experience. Read, but sink into the vision Krishna unfolds.

Krishna is not reciting his glories. Krishna is showing Arjuna what his potential can be, what he is, and what he can be. This is the scene that leaves Arjuna spellbound, speechless, petrified and inspired. Arjuna discovers who he can be. So will you.

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Arjuna asks:

Through your compassionate words, I am now clear of my delusion. You spoke of your divine attributes. May I see you in your divine eternal Self?

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Krishna responds:

?See the entire cosmos within me as you wanted to see. As this cannot be seen by your mortal eyes, I give you energised eyes to see me as the Creator.

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Sanjaya, emperor Dhritarashtra’s Minister using his telepathy says to the blind Dhritarashtra:

?Krishna revealed himself as the creator with infinite faces, bejewelled, in celestial garments, and with many weapons. It was like a thousand suns rising altogether sum of which would be a fraction of his splendour.

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Arjuna saw the universe within Krishna. Hair on end, trembling, Arjuna folded his hands in prayer and said;

I see within you all gods, living creatures, sages, celestial creatures, Brahma the creator, and you with infinite mouths, arms, stomachs, and eyes everywhere, infinite. You wear a crown, mace and disk, with blinding radiance filling the universe with the light of fiery suns. You are the supreme changeless reality, refuge to all creation, immortal guardian and sustainer, the only truth to be known. You’re the beginning, middle and end, touching everything with infinite energy. The sun and moon are your eyes and your mouth is fire. Your radiance warms the universe and fills the heavens and earth with your presence. I see the three worlds trembling in fear at this wonderful and terrifying form.

?The gods and sages enter you, singing your glory. Demos and demigods are overcome. I and the entire cosmos tremble in fear at the sight of your fiery eyes, open mouth and expanding body. As I see your fiery form as if at the end of time, I have no courage, peace of mind, not knowing where I am and where to go. I see the Kaurava clan, Bhishma, Drona and Karna, all the warriors and kings rushing into your jaws being crushed. As rivers flow into the ocean, they all flow into your fiery jaws like moths into a flame, swallowed in your mouth. The entire creation is in flames.

?I am confused. Tell me who you are in this terrifying form, you who existed before creation.

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Krishna says:

?I am Time. I am Death, the Destroyer, come to consume the universe. With or without you all these people will die. Arise and conquer your enemies and be the King. I have already killed them all. Bhishma and others are dead. Kill those who I have killed. You’re a mere instrument. Don’t be afraid. Fight and conquer.

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Sanjaya says, having heard these words trembling in fear, Arjuna folded his hands in prayer and stammered.

?Rightly the world celebrates you, all sages bow to you, and the evil flee from you. You are eternal, from before Brahma, the creator, eternal, beyond the duality of existence and non-existence, what is and what is not, and you will never cease to be. You are the god of gods, the knower and all things known. You are home. You pervade the cosmos. You are around me, behind and in front. You are everything. I bow to you.

?I called you ‘friend’. How could I have? Forgive me for what I said without knowing your greatness, unchanging and immortal. You are the greatest. You are the father of the universe. No one can match your power. I prostrate to you. Forgive me.

?I rejoice seeing as never seen before. I am also afraid. Let me see you again, not in this terrifying form, but as the god of goads with four arms, wearing your crown, and bearing your mace and disk.

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Krishna says:

?No mortal has seen through any means what I have graced you to see as my cosmic form. Fear not, look at me as I was before.

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Sanjaya says, with these words, Krishna resumed his normal mien.

?Arjuna says: My mind is at rest seeing your gentle human form.

?Krishna says:

?The vision I showed you, even the gods long for. No knowledge, charity, austerity, and sacrifice can reach this vision. Through your everlasting devotion you can know me, see me, and unite with me. One whose selfless goals are about me unites with me.

?Not for nothing is this chapter called the Cosmic Vision. In a sense, these verses define Krishna as the Parabrahman. Oppenheimer quoted the verse, ‘I am Death the Destroyer’ at the first nuclear explosion. Einstein and other quantum scientists have spoken on this verse. In this vision, Krishna becomes Shiva, Maheshwara.

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Reflection

?These verses are not about Krishna’s glory. As the Parabrahman, he is beyond praise and glory. These verses tell us what you and I can be. They tell us our potential in reflection of the divine. Don’t merely read these verses. Visualise Krishna in whatever way you can. Embed him in your heart, even if it’s as death. You will conquer death and suffering.

Time is death. It's unstoppable, cyclical and foreordained. Beware! Don't waste it.

?Some view Krishna and the Gita as mythical and religious. Yes, they can. However, we are seeing Krishna in these chapters as a metaphor for cosmic energy, not as a Hindu God. As cosmic energy Krishna is non-denominational.

?The Bhagavad Gita is the message for today. If you liked what you read, share with another 20 or 30, and request them to share. We may open closed minds, hearts and will.

Ram is a co-founder and mentor at Coacharya?https://coacharya.com. Ram's focus is the integration of Eastern wisdom with modern science, spiritually, systemically and sustainably. Visit Coacharya.

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