Mahabharatha and Management
Introduction
Mahābhārata, is the second longest epic of the world and one of the most important Hindu epics. The story is about the war that took place between two sibling families belonging to the kuru clan. Kurukshetra is the battleground on which this war, known as the Kurukshetra War, was fought. Kurukshetra was also known as "Dharmakshetra" (the "field of Dharma"), or field of righteousness. Mahābhārata tells that this site was chosen for the war because a sin committed on this land was forgiven on account of the sanctity of this land.
The Kurukshetra War is the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, which forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. According to Mahābhārata, a dynastic struggle between sibling clans of Kauravas and the Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of the rival clans.
Pandavas
The Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. All five brothers were married to one woman, Draupadi.
Kauravas
The kauravas were the children of Dhritarashtra and queen Gandhari. There are 100 sons and one daughter. Some of the kauravas are Duryodhana, Dushasana, Dussala, Jalagandha, Sama. The daughter is named Dusshalaa. All the male Kauravas were killed in the great battle at Kurukshetra.
The mahabharata deals with eternal values and truths, making its message relevant today too. here is a collection of its lessons on what in modern parlance is called management strategy.
Preparation
Kauravas :
Karna went on a country-wide military mission, subdued the different kingdoms and acquired wealth. But it meant a loss in terms of both men and money and creation of new enemies.
Pandavas :
Though in exile they turned their attention to improving over their weakness
• Arjuna set out on a mission to acquires Divyastras.
• Bhima met his brother Hanuman and got a blessing of enhanced strength.
• Yudhisthira acquired teachings from the various wise rishis, and also learnt the Game of Dice from Gandharava Chtrasena, lest he was challenged to yet another dice game. Its said that he had become undefeatable in Dice.
Turn your weakness into your Strength.
Leadership
Kauravas :
The leadership was Centralized. They had one Head of Army at a time, who has supreme authority of 11 akshouhini of army. The leaders were Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya and Ashwatthama.
Pandavas :
The leadership was Distributed. Seven commanders for the seven divisions.(1 man command 1 akshouhini each).
• Virat (King of Matsya).
• Drupad (King of Pancala).
• Sahadeva(King of
• Dhrshtaketu (King of Chedi).
• Satyaki (Only warrior from Dwarka).
• Shikhandi (Prince of Pancala).
Dhrshtadymna – Commander in Chief.
Arjuna –Supreme Commander.
Share your responsibilities.
Team spirit
Kauravas :
They had no team spirit. They all fought their individual wars
• Bhishma : For his Vow to protect the throne Hastinapur.
• Drona and Kripa : They owed allegiance to the throne.
• Shalya : Simply cheated by Duryodhana to be there. Was originally a Pandava ally.
• Karna : To prove his mantle against Arjuna. Friendship for Duryodhana.
It was like a bees and mosquitoes put together in a jar.
Pandavas :
They worked as One team. One Goal. As men, they all had huge respect for
Teamwork succeeds where Individual effort fails,
Individual motive
Kauravas :
Except for Duryodhana nobody wanted the War. All the 4 main generals had strong ties with the Pandavas.
• Bhishma(grandchildern) – Wont kill the panadavas but will kill a thousand soldiers each day.
• Drona (students) – Wont kill the Pandavas but will capture them only.
• Shalya (Nakula-Shadeva’s maternal uncle) : Loved the Pandavas and covertly helped them by humiliating Karna
• Karna (brother to the Pandavas) : Promised not to kill any of the other Pandavas save Arjuna.
A Team of Traitors.
Pandavas :
They had a Common goal. But the individuals had their individual targets. Their own agenda, which just became one with the teams’ agenda.
• Dhratsadyumna : Drona.
• Shikhandi : Bhisma.
• Satayaki – Bhurisravas.
• Arjuna – Karna.
• Bhima – Duryodhana and his brothers.
• Sahadeva – Shakuni and his sons.
• Nakula –Karna’s sons.
The Right team is made by selecting the Right Individuals. Get the right man for the right job.
Commitment
Kauravas :
Already said the Big 4 had big emotional attachment with the 5 Pandavas.
Looking further on their commitment.
• Bhisma himself gave away the secret of killing him to the Pandavas.He prolonged the War by killing only inconsequential soldiers. He did not fight a warrior like Shikhandi because of his personal bias.
• Drona too indirectly gave away his secret, by saying he was invulnerable as long as he held a weapon. Moreover he abandoned weapons as soon as he knew his son had died.
• Karna did not kill Yudhisthira and BHima when he got the chance. He gave away his Kavac and Kundala prior to his War. Karna fled innumerous times from the War when he was hurt. He didn’t save Duhsasana when Bhima was killing him.
• Shalya kept on insulting Karna while in
Pandavas :
• Abhimanyu , a 16 year old kid. Ventured beyond enemy lines alone. This was suicide mission but he still went in and took a great part of the army down with him. It took the combined effort of 7 Maharathis to take him down.
• Ghatotkach even in death, took with him almost half the army.
• Yudhisthira, he knew he couldn’t face Karna in War, but still went in to set an example. Yudhitshira didn't hesitate to tell a lie or a twisted truth when faced with the decision of whether to stick to his personal integrity or welfare of the team.
•
The interests of the Individual should never exceed the Team interest.
The best man for a Job is not the one with the best capabilities but one with the greatest commitment.
Right Manager
Yudhisthira : Low-key strategist.
• On the first day of the War, he played a Master game. Went over to the Enemy side to seek blessings from Elders. In reality he made a covert deal with them, wherein all of them agreed to help him and unfolded the secrets of defeating them.
• While coming back, he took a calculated risk. He made an offer to all the assembled people to change sides if they wanted to. He knew well of the lack of cohesiveness among the Kauravas. Yuyutsu, son of Dhrtarashtra crossed over to the Pandavas. This exposed the weakness of the Kauravas for all to see.
Know your enemies weaknesses and exploit them.
Take Calculated risks.
Inspire, invigorate, counsel your own team in moments of need.
Roots
Kauravas :
Princes brought up in the comfort of the
Pandavas :
• Spent the greater part of their lives in Poverty. Childhood in the Himalayan foothills among Rishis. One year exile among the poor people of Kuru-Panchala. 12 years of Vanvas and 1 year of Agyatvas.
• Experinced with the ground reality. Contact with people from various strata of the society. Sannyasis (celibate monks), Acharyas(Householders, teachers), poor Brahmanas, lower-class Potter.
• Different races of people. Rakshasas, Gandharavas, Apsaras, Nagas. People from different regions Uttarkuru, Bengal etc.
• A Sense of Sharing. A sense of Brotherhood.
Know ground realities.
Know different ideologies.
Share.
Women Empowerment
Kauravas :
It is Patriarchal structure (men take the lead role) Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Dhratarashtra, Vidur, Shakuni, Duryodhana, Karna, Duhsasana. No women is involved in the decision making process. Gandhari retreated to the Inner Chambers. Nobody listened to her.
Pandavas :
It is Matriarchal Structure (women take the lead role)
• Kunti was the authority supreme for the Pandavas.
“Whatever my mother says is Dharma to me” : Yudhisthira.
• Draupadi was a companion in whatever the Pandavas did. She had a big role in all the decision making. Without her the Pandavas would have most probably reclined to the forests.
• Even the younger Pandavas : Ghatotkach, Abhimnanyu and Iravan were brought up by their mothers. So the female influence was huge.
Women = Better Half. Any team which doesn't have women is unbalanced, for the Masculine traits of Aggression and Dominance should be balanced by the Feminine traits of Harmony and Sustenance.
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