Now I Am Become Pretentious, The Destroyer Of Translations

I recently had a conversation with ChatGPT. We discussed Robert Oppenheimer’s famous translation of a verse from the Bhagavad Gita as “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” I said it should be, “Now I am become pretentious, the destroyer of translations”. As you might guess, I don’t think it’s a good one. I argued that “Now I am become…” isn’t even a translation. Maybe he just wanted it to sound mystical by being grammatically incorrect in the language he claims to be translating into. ChatGPT thought I was being mean.

I can’t read Sanskrit, but ChatGPT can.

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो

लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।

ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे

येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधा

After much debate, we eventually agreed that a more accurate translation would be “Behold, I now assume the form of time, the world-devouring force.”

Through discussion we co-translated the full verse in context is as follows:

“Behold, I now assume the form of time, the world-devouring force, engaged in the destruction of all people. Even without your participation, all the warriors stationed in opposing ranks shall cease to exist.”

In context, this verse is part of a dialogue between Arjuna, a skilled warrior, and Krishna, who serves as his charioteer and spiritual guide. Arjuna is facing a moral dilemma and an internal conflict on the battlefield, as he contemplates the consequences of engaging in a violent war against his own relatives and loved ones.

Krishna, aware of Arjuna’s inner turmoil, imparts his divine wisdom to help him navigate through his moral crisis. He advises Arjuna to focus on fulfilling his duty (dharma) as a warrior without becoming attached to the outcomes or the fate of the opposing warriors.

Krishna teaches Arjuna the importance of detached action, where he performs his duty skillfully and wholeheartedly without being driven by personal desires or attachment to results. He encourages Arjuna to let go of emotional attachments and view the battle as a righteous duty that needs to be fulfilled.

By emphasizing the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death, Krishna helps Arjuna accept that the outcome of the battle is ultimately in the hands of a higher power. Arjuna is urged to perform his duty diligently, free from personal attachments, and surrender the fruits of his actions to the divine will.

Considering Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atomic bomb, he perhaps picked the appropriate verse for himself, albeit with the questionable translation that we’ll now never be rid of.

I have reservations about fully embracing this perspective. I lean toward in the importance of actively working towards ethical outcomes and considering the future consequences of our actions. However, I have the luxury of not grappling with the weight of having been involved in the creation of an atomic bomb and the profound repercussions that followed.

However, ultimately, my Dad didn’t get shipped off to Japan , so….

I recalled that I had a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, so I found the translation in it:

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Time I am, the destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. Except for you [the Pāṇḍavas], all soldiers on both side here will be slain.” – A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Still closer to mine than to Oppenheimer’s.

P.S. As for the Bhagavad Gita. If I were a member of the ruling cast in India, it’s just what I would think you’d want to pen to encourage a populace that is subservient to the will of authority and the rulers, i.e. me.