Answering Arjuna's desperate question about His identity and mission, the Supreme Lord delivers the definitive truth. He declares: I am Time (kālo 'smi), the great, mature, and ultimate destroyer of the worlds (loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho). My specific mission and purpose for being actively engaged here right now (iha pravṛttaḥ) is to destroy and draw back all these multitudes of people (lokān samāhartum). Even without your participation or effort (ṛte 'pi tvāṃ), absolutely none of them shall survive or exist in the future (na bhaviṣyanti sarve)—all these warriors who are situated in the opposing armies (ye 'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ) are already slated for death.