Can anyone give me a bit of a backstory on the bhagavad gita when. The use of this line by a figure of oppenheimers stature, on national television, has indelibly linked it with the development and use of this. Robert oppenheimer was an american theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the. Bhagavad gita and the first atomic explosion now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. I remembered the line from the hindu scripture the bhagavad gita. Elon musk just referred to the bhagwad gita and called. The title is a reference to a phrase from the bhagavad gita and was famously quoted by j. Shreemad bhagvad gita in nepali with audio apps on. Robert oppenheimer, translating krishnas famous line note the bhagavad gita the song of god is a book within a larger epic based on the conversation in the hindu epic mahabharata between warrior prince arjuna and his charioteer krishna during the kurushetra war. It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody elses life with. Bradbury science museum getty images as he witnessed the first detonation of a nuclear weapon on july 16, 1945, a piece of hindu scripture ran through the mind of robert oppenheimer. Artwork by damocles i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. The bhagavad gita the bhagavad gita key points key teaching points and discussion prompts.
The bhagavad gita quotes by krishnadwaipayana vyasa. I am mighty time, the source of destruction that comes forth to annihilate the commentary. No one can bring an end to spirit which is everlasting. Robert oppenheimer did you know that quote is actually from the bhagavad gita, a hindu holy book. As a result, it is probably the most famous quote from the bhagavad gita in the western world. I am all devouring death, and i am the generating principle of all that is to be. Robert oppenheimer explains how he recited a line from bhagavad gitanow i am become death, the destroyer of worldsupon witnessing the first nuclear explosion in history, physics, religion september 4th, 2020 leave a comment.
In response to arjuns question regarding who he is, shree krishna reveals his nature as allpowerful time, the destroyer of the universe. Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him takes on his multiarmed form, and says, now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Dec 19, 2020 now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Robert oppenheimer, an american theoretical physicist who left an outsized mark on history.
Unit 5 the bhagavad gita this epic tale of the warriorprince arjuna confronting a lifeor death dilemma during civil war presents a unique and powerful philosophy of duty, discipline, and serving a higher purpose. I remembered the line from the hindu scripture, the bhagavadgita. It is a dialog between the god krishna and the hero arjuna, taking place in a timeless moment on the battlefield before. Robert oppenheimer, american physicist and director of the manhattan project, learned sanskrit in 1933 and read the bhagavad gita in the original form, citing it later as one of the most influential books to shape his philosophy of life. Written by don a martinez and carolynn aerie marie. Why do you think oppenheimer quoted these lines at that moment. Aug 12, 2012 now, i am become death, the destroyer of worlds, after he had seen the fireball glowing after the bomb had been dropped. The line, from the hindu sacred text the bhagavad gita, has come to define robert. For his crucial role in the manhattan project that during world war ii produced. This book is the converstion between krishna and arjun. The bhagavad gita the song of god is a book within a larger epic based on the conversation in the hindu. It is well known that upon viewing the sight of the unearthly mushroom cloud soaring into the heavens, he recalled yet another passage from the gita. Bhagavad gita is seen both as a treatise on war and peace as well as laying one of the foundations of hindu religion. In 18881893, when vivekananda was travelling all over india as a wandering monk, he kept only two books with him the gita and the imitation of christ.
Swami vivekananda swami vivekananda evinced much interest in the bhagavad gita. The bhagavad gita is technically part of book 6 of the mahabharata, although it is known to be a later accretion to the saga, which stands on its own merits. The song of god, often referred to as the gita, is a 701verse hindu scripture that is part of the epic mahabharata chapters 2340 of bhishma parva, dated to the second century bce. Perhaps the trinity he had in mind was the hindu, rather than the christian, tripartite deity. I remembered the line from the hindu scripture, the bhagavad gita. Bhagavad gita, or song of the lord i have become death, the destroyer of worlds. Jul 17, 2018 he summed up the effect the first experimental test, code named trinity, of an atom bomb had on him. The original line is now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds and was uttered by lord krishna to prince arjuna to persuade him to take up his duty and go to war against the kauravas. It is said that the bhagavad gita was one of his two most favourite books another one was the imitation of christ. Bhagavad gita pleasures conceived in the world of the senses have a beginning and an end and give birth to misery.
No matter how little we know of the hindu religion, a line from one of its holy scriptures lives within us all. You have misquoted two verses and juggled them together from chapters 10 and 11 of the bhagavata gita as is. Robert oppenheimer the world spun in a blaze of fire. This famous quotation came to worldwide attention after it was uttered by j. Elon musk butchered iconic line from bhagavad gita and called.
With apologies to robert oppenheimer, who quoted the bhagavad gita. It is a dialog between the god krishna and the hero arjuna, taking place in a timeless moment on the battlefield before the climactic struggle between good and evil. Bhagavad gita and the first atomic explosion times of india. Radhakrishnan 1948 time am i, worlddestroying, grown mature, engaged here in. Oppenheimer quotes the bhagavad gita by rajendra kumar bera.
The title is a reference to a phrase from the bhagavad gita and was famously. The line, from the hindu sacred text the bhagavadgita, has come to define robert. He read the bhagavad gita in the original sanskrit, and later he cited it as one of the books that most shaped his philosophy of life. Aug 09, 2015 he later said that he could not help but think of a line from the bhagavad gita. The sight of the terrible apparitional mushroom cloud climbing into the heavens made oppenheimer remember a line from the bhagavad gita. A thumbnail link to the starter image supplied by abstractartangel77 is in the first comment field. Can anyone give me a bit of a backstory on the bhagavad gita when vishnu said now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Mar 02, 2020 the passage you ask about, i am become death, is a presentperfect construction equivalent to i have become death. I am death, the mighty destroyer of the world, out to destroy. In letters, he wrote gushingly about the book to his brother, an. Hirst says the title is a reference to robert oppenheimer, who while detonating the first atomic bomb in 1945, quoted the bhagavad gita, i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. English translation of selected slokas from the bhagavad gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him, takes on his multiarmed form and says, now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
In the war following the incidents of the gita, certain statements indicate the use of nuclear weapons. Oppenheimer later recalled that, while witnessing the explosion of the trinity nuclear test, he thought of verses from the bhagavad gita xi,12. Bhagavad gita is a 700verse, 18chapter religious text within the. Bhagavadgita project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Jul 01, 2020 now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Robert oppenheimer explains how he recited a line from. Robert oppenheimer explains how he recited a line from bhagavad gita now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds upon. Among women i am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience. Radhakrishnan 1948 time am i, worlddestroying, grown mature, engaged here in subduing the world. The mystery of oppenheimer, the bhagavad gita, and the. Now i am become death, the destroyer of the worlds bhg. I am time death, cause of destruction of the worlds, matured and set out to gather in the worlds here. The trinity test of the manhattan project was the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, which leads oppenheimer to recall verses from the hindu scripture bhagavad gita. Even without thee thy action, all shall cease to exist, the warriors that are drawn up in the opposing ranks.
Few people laughed, few people cried, most people were silent. Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince arjuna that he should do his duty, and to impress him takes on his multiarmed form, and says. If the radiance of a thousandsuns were to burst into the sky that would be like the splendourof the mighty one and i am become death, the shatterer of worlds. Chapter 11, verse 32 bhagavad gita, the song of god swami. The mayan book of creation, the dawn of life, and the glories of gods and kings. Now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds when he saw the first test of a nuclear bomb. The quotation appears throughout the literature on nuclear weap ons, often in a slightly different form. Elon musk butchered iconic line from bhagavad gita and. Feb 05, 2021 the original line is now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds and was uttered by lord krishna to prince arjuna to persuade him to take up his duty and go to war against the kauravas. I remembered the line from the hindu scripture, the. This video was posted on the 66th anniversary of the atomic bombing of hiroshima. Jun 10, 2014 vishnu is trying to persuade the prince arjuna that he should do his duty, and to impress him takes on his multiarmed form, and says.
Jan 07, 2021 i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. According to oppenheimer himself, the bhagavad gita was a primary source of his philosophical views. With the exception of you the pandavas, all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain. Oppenheimer quotes the bhagavad gita by rajendra kumar. A mad necromancer in baldurs gate uses a number of quotes, including i am death incarnate.
Swami vivekananda evinced much interest in the bhagavad gita. Even without your participation all the warriors standing arrayed in the opposing armies shall cease to exist. Chapter 11, verse 32 bhagavad gita, the song of god. The quotation appears throughout the literature on nuclear weapons, often in a slightly different form. I am become death is the fourth episode of the third season of the nbc superhero drama series heroes and thirtyeighth episode overall. Parodied in mystery science theater 3000 with mike nelson, destroyer of worlds. What is the original meaning of the quote from the bhagavad gita. With the exception of you the pandavas, all the soldiers here. Jan 04, 2019 the bhagavad gita is a part of a bigger book known as the mahabharata.
Robert oppenheimer famously spoke this quote of krishnas in the bhagavad gita in reference to the decision to drop the atomic bomb on. This quote has become infamous and it is actually chapter 11 verse 32 of the bhagavadgita, a scripture which has been revered by hindus for thousands of years. Now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds youtube. Time i am, destroyer of the worlds, and i have come to engage all people. You have misquoted two verses and juggled them together from chapters 10 and 11 of the bhagavata gita as is i am all devouring death, and i am the generating principle of all that is to be. He had studied a vast number of sanskrit books in original, including the bhagavad gita which is part of the. The bhagavadgita, oppenheimer and nuclear weapons hindu. What is the original meaning of the quote from the. If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst into the sky that would be like the splendour of the mighty one and i am become death, the shatterer of worlds.
Upon witnessing the world s first nuclear test in 1945, he later said he had thought of the quotation now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds, verse 32 from chapter 11 of the bhagavad gita. Now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds waggish. Now, i am become death, the destroyer of worlds, after he had seen the fireball glowing after the bomb had been dropped. Create new now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds. I am become death the destroyer of worlds full quote. Well have more to say later about oppenheimer and his quotation from the bhagavad gita. Newsblogslifestyle bhagavad gita and the first atomic explosion. For the kreative people group weekly challenge treat this no 76. You have the right to work, but for the works sake only. Oppenheimer made this statement in 1965 during a televised interview. Time i am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and i have come here to destroy all people. Bhaktivedanta swami prabhupada of gaudiya sampradaya.
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