The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Krishna explains the cosmic form's nature. 'Kālo 'smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddhaḥ'—I am (asmi) mighty (pravṛddhaḥ) Time (kālaḥ), the destroyer of worlds (loka-kṣaya-kṛt). 'Lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ'—engaged (pravṛttaḥ) here (iha) in destroying (samāhartum) all beings (lokān). 'Ṛte 'pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣyanti sarve'—even (api) without (ṛte) you (tvām), all (sarve) will not exist (na bhaviṣyanti). 'Ye 'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ'—those warriors (yodhāḥ) who are standing (avasthitāḥ) in the opposing armies (pratyanīkeṣu). Krishna reveals that the cosmic form is Time itself—the destroyer of worlds, engaged in destroying all beings. The destruction is inevitable—even without Arjuna fighting, all warriors will die. This verse shows that the cosmic form represents the inevitability of time and destruction—not a personal act, but the natural process of time consuming all beings.