Let us educate ourselves with a story, one that is as old as civilisation but as urgent as tomorrow’s headlines. Syamantaka Mani, from the Bhagavata Purana, is no ordinary jewel. It was created and given to humanity by Surya Bhagawan to bring prosperity to the righteous and calamity to the corrupt. When its keeper, Prasena, is killed in the wild while hunting, the lion takes it; then Jambavan, the ancient bear-king of Ramayan fame, claims it for his own after killing the lion. Accusation, conflict, and eventual recognition follow, as Sri Krishna retrieves the Mani. Sri Krishna initially tries to force, but is later gifted the Mani when Jambavan recognises that Sri Krishna’s intention is noble. Later, Sri Krishna not only clears his name but also restores order.
In the present day, the Mani is our modern technology: nuclear assets, semiconductors, and AI. In the right hands, it is a blessing; in the wrong, a curse. The United States is the lion; it seized the Mani from the defeated Nazis. China, the patient Jambavan, is gathering strength, not yet triumphant but closing in. And Sri Krishna? That’s the world’s hope. The world is waiting for a new kind of leadership, or a reformed United Nations (UN), able to bring order before chaos overwhelms us all.
Control of the US on UNO
Fast-forward to 1945. Nazi Germany, the heinous hunter, is killed, and the lion (America) claims the Mani. The Operation Paperclip of the USA smuggles about 1600 Nazi scientists into the US, not just brains, but the seeds of both destruction (the atomic bomb) and innovation (rocket science, chemical technology). Mani’s power is felt instantly: Hiroshima, Nagasaki. But also, Atoms for Peace, post-war prosperity, and the rise of the United States as both benefactor and gatekeeper. The UN, built by the lion, is both a promise and a fortress, a collective security, but guarded by the lion’s own veto.
But the lion was not alone in the forest. The Soviets built their own Mani, but ill intent led to disasters, collapse, and irrelevance. Iran chases the dream but finds only isolation. Pakistan has one, but the consequences so far suggest it is pursuing the Soviet path. And today, under a resurgent U.S. isolationism (sanctioning critics, retreating from global forums), the lion’s power is ebbing. Meanwhile, Jambavan, China, waits in the shadows, growing stronger. It is no secret that most of the technology that China boasts has either been stolen from the USSR/Russia or the US/West. However, it is now exploiting the knowledge gained and leapfrogging the lion. China leads in AI and related technologies and is edging closer to breakthroughs humanity has not seen before. The contest is now digital, not just nuclear: chip bans, patent races, a cold war of algorithms. In addition, as the lion withdraws, the smaller beasts raise their voices in forums which used to be a hunting ground for the lion – the UN Human Rights Council.
The result? The forest is not at peace. The King of the forest is getting weaker or distracted. On December 10, 2025, Newsweek reported the following: “The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded 204,605 conflict events from December 1, 2024, to November 28, 2025, resulting in over 240,000 deaths, in its newly released Conflict Index update on global conflicts.” Even though not all are between nations, clearly, the world is not at peace! Nuclear ambitions, AI-powered drones, disinformation: all shadows cast by the Mani, all thriving where global leadership falters.
But redemption is possible. A reimagined UN is not just desirable, it is necessary. If the den can be rebuilt, if the UN can truly govern the Mani, then technology can serve humanity: safe fusion, responsible AI, frameworks that put humanity above rivalry.
Looking ahead, the choice is stark. Sri Krishna won’t be a single hero but an organised, structured effort. The lion does not have to be killed. Jambavan does not have to fight Sri Krishna: a revitalised UN, new alliances, maybe even cooperation between the US and China. Even if Jambavan kills the lion accidentally, we risk not only widespread destruction but also a cascade of wars against Jambavan until he surrenders. It will only mean AI disasters and a world ruled by fear. But if we, like Krishna, can persuade the strong to be well-intentioned, to use power for the common good, we can harness technology for peace, not destruction. At the moment, the hoarded power wielded by the UN Security Council through the Veto corrupts the UN leadership. Hopefully, in the future, shared power will bring peace. UN reform is not optional; it is a matter of survival for humanity.
