FATHER OF ATOMIC BOMB OPPENHEIMER

QUOTE FROM BHAGAVAD GITA

J. Robert Oppenheimer (April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist best known for his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, the World War II effort to develop the first nuclear weapons, at the secret Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico.

Recently, the Oppenheimer film was released. We realize that people may be more interested in the events of his life given the release of this film, so we have compiled this information for the interest of our readers.

As Oppenheimer witnessed the first detonation of a nuclear weapon on July 16, 1945, a piece of Hindu scripture ran through his mind. He said the following:

We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed. A few people cried. Most people were silent.

I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him he takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."

I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.

Oppenheimer is referencing chapter 11 of the Bhagavad-Gita. He is quoting verse 32 when he says, "I am become death." He is also referencing verse 5, in which the prince is shown the Lord's multi-armed form.

Oppenheimer was very interested in reading Hindu scripture. While he never became a Hindu in the devotional sense, Oppenheimer found within Hindu scriptures a useful philosophy for his own internal guidance.

And yet his quote from the Bhagavad-Gita, "I am become death, destroyer of worlds," is more complex than people realize, and often misunderstood.

The Bhagavad-Gita, written in Sanskrit, centers around a dialogue between a great warrior prince named Arjuna, and his charioteer, Lord Krishna, who is an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Arjuna is torn because he has friends and family in the opposing army. He doesn't want to fight. But Krishna teaches him a higher philosophy that will enable him to carry out his duty irrespective of his personal feelings. This is known as dharma, or one's holy duty. The Bhagavad-Gita has lessons on desire, lust, righteousness, dharma, and the final state of total liberation—moksha.

In the verse Oppenheimer quotes, “death” literally translates as “world-destroying time.” Its meaning refers to the following idea: Irrespective of what Arjuna does, everything is in the hands of the divine.

In other words, Arjuna has a duty to fight, but Krishna is the one who decides who lives and who dies, not Arjuna. Arjuna is not supposed to mourn or rejoice over the results of the battle, but he should be detached from the results. And ultimately, the most important thing is that he should be devoted to Krishna.

An expert on Sanskrit scripture said the following, "[In the Bhagavad-Gita there's an argument that] death is an illusion, that we’re not born and we don’t die. That’s the philosophy, really. That there’s only one consciousness and that the whole of creation is a wonderful play."

But clearly Oppenheimer was not detached from the results of his own weapon, because he expressed regret later.

Oppenheimer made such a disgusted face during the dropping of the second bomb that during an October 1945 meeting with then-President Harry Truman, Truman asked Oppenheimer what was wrong.

"Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands," Oppenheimer told Truman, according to the book, "American Prometheus." (Business Insider, 7-22-23)

Below we will provide translations of the verses Oppenheimer referenced from sites that seem reputable.

BHAGAVAD-GITA VERSES QUOTED BY OPPENHEIMER

11:5 Project Gutenberg Translation

So did Pandu's Son behold
All this universe enfold
All its huge diversity
Into one vast shape, and be
Visible, and viewed, and blended
In one Body--subtle, splendid,
Nameless--th' All-comprehending
God of Gods, the Never-Ending
Deity! (Project Gutenberg)

11:5 Sacred-Texts Translation

Lord of the possessors of mystic power, then showed to the son of Prithâ. his supreme divine form, having many mouths and eyes, having (within it) many wonderful sights, having many celestial ornaments, having many celestial weapons held erect, wearing celestial flowers and vestments, having an anointment of celestial perfumes, full of every wonder, the infinite deity with faces in all directions 1. If in the heavens, the lustre of a thousand suns burst forth all at once, that would be like the lustre of that mighty one. There the son of Pându then observed in the body of the god of gods the whole universe (all) in one, and divided into numerous 2 (divisions). Then Dhanañgaya filled with amazement, and with hair standing on end, bowed his head before the god, and spoke with joined hands. (Sacred Texts)

11:32 Project Gutenberg Translation

Krishna.
Thou seest Me as Time who kills,
Time who brings all to doom,
The Slayer Time, Ancient of Days, come hither to consume;
Excepting thee, of all these hosts of hostile chiefs arrayed,
There stands not one shall leave alive the battlefield! Dismayed
No longer be! Arise! obtain renown! destroy thy foes! (Project Gutenberg)

11:32 Sacred-Texts Translation:

I am death, the destroyer of the worlds, fully developed, and I am now active about the overthrow of the worlds. Even without you, the warriors standing in the adverse hosts, shall all cease to be. Therefore, be up, obtain glory, and vanquishing (your) foes, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. All these have been already killed by me. Be only the instrument, O Savyasâkin! Drona, and Bhîshma, and Gayadratha, and Karna, and likewise other valiant warriors also, whom I have killed, do you kill. Be not alarmed. Do fight. And in the battle you will conquer your foes. (Sacred Texts)

DISCLAIMER:

We are not experts in Hindu theology or the Bhagavad-Gita. We have simply put this information up for educational purposes.

WATCH VIDEO OF OPPENHEIMER QUOTE HERE

Oppenheimer Comments on the First Deployment of an Atomic Bomb. (Watch Video Here)

The video above shows the deployment of the first atomic bomb followed by Oppenheimer's famous quote.

This video was not made at the time of the bomb's deployment, but later.

Oppenheimer is commenting on the bomb's deployment and describing what he said and felt at the moment.

READ CHAPTER 11 FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA