Time in Ecclesiastes and the Mahabharata

Abstract

This article examines the implied assumption that the concept of time in both Ecclesiastes and the Mahabharata presents a predeterministic view of human life. Such a postulation favours the argument that humans are prisoners of time who cannot overcome their plight because they think that suffering, failure, and oppression are their destiny, determined by time. The analysis suggests that Qohelet neither professes strong predeterminis‑m of time in human life nor gives humans absolute control of their life in time. The Mahabharata does not critique time and predeterminism outright but attributes importance to human endeavours and responsibilities. The acceptance of external forces like time or fate does not completely deny that human power influences destiny. Since humans have the freedom to act in the present time, it is not suitable to claim that God through time predetermines poverty, oppression, violence, and atrocities in human life.