172. Creation follows Divine Destruction.

Arjuna says, “All sons of Dhritarashtra, many kings on the earth, Bhishma, Drona, Karna and our warrior chiefs enter your frightening mouth which has fearsome pointed teeth. Some are caught between the gaps in your teeth, with their heads being crushed (11.26 and 11.27). Just as the gushing rivers flow towards the ocean, the heroes of this world enter your flaming mouths (11.28). Just as moths rush into a blazing fire and are destroyed, so also these men rush into your mouths to meet their destruction (11.29). Your fiery rays are scorching the world (11.30). Tell me who you are, so fierce in form. I bow down to you. Have mercy upon me. I desire to know you, the Primal Being. I don’t know your purpose” (11.31).

Krishna says, “I am the mighty time that destroys worlds and is now engaged in wiping out the world. Even without your participation, none of the warriors will survive” (11.32). This verse was quoted by the scientist who headed the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bomb which was subsequently used in the Second World War. This has led to varied interpretations of this verse.

Krishna earlier said that He is the eternal time (10.33) and now He says He is mighty time. Untill we transcend the polarities, which also means transcending time (kaal-atheeth), all of us experience time differently. One moment can be a pleasant for someone and painful for another. Multi-faced time is currently (Kurukshetra war) engaged in destroying the world.

Each atom of our physical body is created during the destruction of a star. The scientific history of our planet shows that past destructions eventually led to the creation of human beings. While our idea of destruction is to damage (purpose), divine destruction coming out of equanimity (without purpose) invariably leads to creation.