Leadership Lessons from Bhagavad Gita
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Keywords

Managerial Practices
Leadership
Gita

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How to Cite

JAISWAL, U., & RAO, K. N. (2014). Leadership Lessons from Bhagavad Gita. Dev Sanskriti Interdisciplinary International Journal, 3, 19–24. https://doi.org/10.36018/dsiij.v3i0.32

Abstract

There has been a flurry of activity in management literature for developing management theories for the last one and half century. People, in general, tend to assume that globally renowned companies adopt the best managerial practices and the management theories of the West are the best worthy of emulation by the Eastern counterparts. In the backdrop of crumbling communist concepts and the near failure of capitalistic models, especially after the fall of Lehman Brothers in USA, scholars have begun to perceive the hollowness of those models and turned their attention to the ancient wisdom of oriental countries.  Leadership is having greater significance in managing an organization. Leaders are the persons who motivate and build the morale of the followers in achieving organizational goals to newer heights. Notwithstanding the prevalence of plethora of literature on leadership from the Western management perspective, scholars have begun to take a relook at ancient Indian scriptures which have valuable lessons in the area of leadership. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna acted as a role model and imparted great lessons of leadership to Arjuna. An attempt is made in this article to draw leadership lessons from Gita which inspired the people from time immemorial.

https://doi.org/10.36018/dsiij.v3i0.32
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References

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Advesta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva ca nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah ksami (Bhagavad Gita, 12/13) ll

Ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah santir apaisunam daya bhutesv aloluptvam mardavam hrir acapalam (Bhagavad Gita, 16/2) ll

Dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho bhijayate॥ Krodadbhavati sammohah sammoha smriti vibhrama smtir bhramsho buddhi nasha buddhi nashatpranashyati (Bhagavad Gita, 2/62-63) ll

Klaibyam ma sma gamah partha naitat tvayy upapadyate ksudram hrdaya-daurbalyam tyaktvottistha parantapa (Bhagavad Gita, 2/3) ll

Loke 'smin dvi-vidha nistha pura prokta mayanagha jnana-yogena sankhyanam karma-yogena yoginam (Bhagavad Gita, 3/3) ll

Na karmanamanarambhat naiskarmyam purusosnute na cha samnyasanadeva siddhim samadhigacchati (Bhagavad Gita, 3/4) ll

Sankhya-yogau prithag balah pravadanti na panditah ekam apy asthitah samyag ubhayor vindate phalam (Bhagavad Gita, 5/4) ll

Sve sve karmanya abhirata: samsiddhim labhate nara (Bhagavad Gita, 18/45) ll

Trividham narakasyedam dvaram nasanam atmanah kamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet (Bhagavad Gita,16/21) ll

Vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah (Bhagavad Gita, 5/18) ll

Yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate (Bhagavad Gita, 3/21) ll

Yatha deepo nivathastho nengathe sopamasmrutha yogino yatha chittasya yunjatho yagam atmanah (Bhagavad Gita, 6/19) ll

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