Chapter 11: Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga: / Verse 2

As a preface, Arjuna submits he has heard how the whole variety of beings comes into existence and meets extinction. Birth, prevalence and death are concurrent and complementary events, outcomes. Either all will be, or none. As the Self gives rise to beings, so it also exterminates them. The cyclic process continues.

Krishna narrated how the Self is the source of birth as well as extinction of all beings, how Its special manifestation is there in the thunderbolt, the deadliest weapon (10.28), and death the crowning end of all lives (10.34). Its power is there in deceit also, as a means for mass destruction, as it happened through the dice game in Hastinapura (10.36).

Existence cannot be detached from emergence and subsidence. All the three go together, fulfilling each other. Once this fact is assimilated well, the mind will be able to accept and be at home with any eventuality – an enlightenment required to face the impending war, causing death in millions.