bhagavad-gitagitakrishnavishwarupa

Bhagavad Gita 11.32 — Kalo'smi Loka-kshaya-krit

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.३२ — कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) or while studying the Bhagavad Gita; especially powerful when contemplating life, death and duty·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 32

Also known as: kalosmi · kalo smi loka kshaya krit · bhagavad gita 11.32 · gita 11 32 · i am time destroyer of worlds · vishwarupa verse

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

In this thunderous verse from the Vishvarupa (Universal Form) revelation of Chapter 11, Lord Krishna declares Himself to be Time (Kala) — the mighty world-destroyer that has already set out to consume the worlds. He tells Arjuna that, even without him, the warriors arrayed against him are already doomed. It is one of the most awe-inspiring statements in all of scripture, revealing the Lord as the supreme power behind creation and dissolution.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 32 · Sage Veda Vyasa (as part of the Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (traditionally Dvapara Yuga; text compiled c. 5th century BCE – 2nd century BCE)

This verse occurs in the eleventh chapter, the Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, where Krishna grants Arjuna divine vision to behold His cosmic Universal Form. Overwhelmed and terrified, Arjuna asks who this fierce form is. Krishna answers with this verse, declaring Himself to be world-destroying Time, already engaged in the annihilation of the assembled armies.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that no ordinary eye could withstand the Universal Form; Krishna granted Arjuna a 'divine eye' (divya-chakshu) to behold it. Sanjaya, narrating to the blind king Dhritarashtra, declares that merely recounting this vision made his own hair stand on end and filled him with joy again and again.

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The Mantra

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श्री भगवानुवाच कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः। ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः॥

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha kālo ’smi loka-kṣhaya-kṛit pravṛiddho lokān samāhartum iha pravṛittaḥ ṛite ’pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣhyanti sarve ye ’vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣhu yodhāḥ

Meaning:The Blessed Lord said, "I am the full-grown, world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile armies will live."

Word-by-Word Meaning

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श्रीभगवानुवाच🔊śhrī-bhagavān uvāchathe Supreme Lord said

कालः🔊kālaḥtime

अस्मि🔊asmiI am

लोकक्षयकृत्🔊loka-kṣhaya-kṛitthe source of destruction of the worlds

प्रवृद्धः🔊pravṛiddhaḥmighty

लोकान्🔊lokānthe worlds

समाहर्तुम्🔊samāhartumannihilation

इह🔊ihathis world

प्रवृत्तः🔊pravṛittaḥparticipation

ऋते🔊ṛitewithout

अपि🔊apieven

त्वाम्🔊tvāmyou

न भविष्यन्ति🔊na bhaviṣhyantishall cease to exist

सर्वे🔊sarveall

ये🔊yewho

अवस्थिताः🔊avasthitāḥarrayed

प्रत्यनीकेषु🔊prati-anīkeṣhuin the opposing army

योधाः🔊yodhāḥthe warriors

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 11.32 — Kalo'smi Loka-kshaya-krit

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Instills fearlessness by reminding the devotee that the Supreme Lord governs all life and death

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Cultivates surrender (sharanagati) — understanding that the Lord is the true doer behind all events

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Dissolves the ego's false sense of being the sole agent of action

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Brings courage to perform one's duty (dharma) without anxiety over outcomes

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Deepens reverence and awe (bhakti through aishvarya) toward Krishna's cosmic majesty

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Helps the seeker meditate on the impermanence of the material world and the eternity of the divine

How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 11.32 — Kalo'smi Loka-kshaya-krit

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) or while studying the Bhagavad Gita; especially powerful when contemplating life, death and duty

Sit in a calm posture facing east. Read the Sanskrit aloud slowly, then reflect on its meaning. This verse is best chanted as part of a study of the Vishvarupa Darshana (Gita Chapter 11). Visualise the Lord as the all-pervading Time that holds the universe. Chant with reverence rather than for material gain; let it inspire courage and surrender. May be recited 3, 9 or 11 times.

Frequently Asked Questions

"Kalo'smi" means "I am Time". In this verse Krishna reveals Himself as Kala — eternal Time — the cosmic force that creates, sustains and ultimately destroys all things. It is His declaration of being the supreme power behind the dissolution of the worlds.

Arjuna hesitated to fight in the Kurukshetra war. By revealing His Universal Form and declaring Himself as all-consuming Time, Krishna showed Arjuna that the outcome was already ordained; Arjuna was only an instrument (nimitta-matra). This freed him from the burden of being the cause of death and motivated him to do his duty.

Yes. Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer famously recalled this verse — "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" — upon witnessing the first atomic bomb test, drawing from translations of Bhagavad Gita 11.32.

Contemplate the impermanence of all created things and the eternity of the Lord. Rather than fear, the verse should awaken surrender and courage — the understanding that one should perform one's righteous duty while leaving the results to the Divine.