Is an ancient text cited in "The Hunt for Red October" real?

In one of the first scenes of "The Hunt for the Red October" (emphasis mine):

And what's this? "I am become death, the destroyer of worlds".

It is an ancient Hindu text quoted by an American.

American?

Mmm. He invented the atomic bomb, and he was later accused of being a Communist.

Is this cite and text real? If yes, what is the exact source for this? Or is this just a fake prop for the movie?

the-hunt-for-red-october

Best Answer

It's real.
A famous quote - Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father' of the atomic bomb, about the early tests in 1945.

It is an interpretation of a section of a Hindu text - the Bhagavad-Gita - far more philosophical than I'm going to attempt to transliterate, but in essence is a paraphrase of a 'feeling' inspired by it. Oppenheimer was reputedly attracted to Hinduism by the tests though was never a convert nor a believer. [That's a rabbit-hole I'm not going to run down;)

The easiest article I can find on it is from Wired [designed to be read by 'ordinary folks' not actual philosophers] 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds'. The story of Oppenheimer's infamous quote

Background -
Wikipedia - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Wikipedia - Bhagavad Gita

He was later in life accused of being a communist - though that was in an era of extreme political paranoia & he was later 'forgiven' by Kennedy.

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