Mahabharata

Understanding mergers and acquisitions from Kauravas and Pandavas

December 5, 2014 Management lessons - Indian Epics Management Mantra post

 

 

 

Hastinapur was the greatest empire of its time and the presence of Bhishma & Drona guaranteed the Victory of Kauravas (100 brothers) in Kurukshetra. Both the parties are going Kingdom to Kingdom for campaigning to become their allies. Kauravas, in their own world and pride did not make powerful allies except from old relations like Gandhara (Shakuni), Sindhu (Jayadrath), Kambodia (Camboja – Bhagadutta). Kauravas had enough of resources in terms of wealth, army, cavalries, elephants.
Krishna was not a king, but he had well-trained army with over 10,000 men who have been great assets in previous campaigns.
Before the war there came a situation, where Krishna was approached to become an ally, by both Duryodhan and Arjuna. Arjuna asked for Krishna and Duryodhan was happy to receive Krishna’s army.
Pandavas on the other hand did not have wealth so they focused on making powerful allies.

Panchal through marriage with Draupadi.
Dwarka through marriage with Arjuna and Subhadra.
Magadh through marriage of Sahdeva and Vijaya.
Chedi through marriage of Nakula and Karenmayi.
Kasi through marriage of Bhima and Balandhara.
Kekaya through marriage of Yudhisthira and Devika.
Matsya through marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara.
The Rakshasas through marriage of Bhima and Hidimba.
The Nagas through marriage of Arjuna and Uloopi.
The kingdom of Virat – Arjuna saved Virat from Kauravas while disguised as Brihannala

Kauravas army and cavalry was too huge compared to that of Pandavas. Still Kauravas lost the war.
Pandavas chose powerful leaders. Krishna was a great asset. Krishna’s army was an asset only till Krishna provided his leadership. It’s not just the skills but knowledge, strategy and alertness plays a key role in winning any game!
Network with people and expand your reach. Connect with people who will fight with you because you share a similar cause.

Importance of Decision Making & context in Management

December 4, 2014 Management lessons - Indian Epics Management Mantra post

 

 

 

In the epic Mahabharata, Bhishma (Devavrata) took the vow of lifelong celibacy and service to whoever succeeds the throne of his father – King of Hastinapur, Shantanu. Thus sacrificing his ‘crown-prince’ title and denying himself the pleasures of conjugal love.

He took an immediate required Decision and the context was father’s happiness.

Who knows what future has stored in! His brave and bold decision turns out to be fatal. His step mother, Satyavati, gives birth to 2 children who die without leaving a successor. The Hastinapur kingdom is now without a king. Satyavati comes to Bhishma to break his vow and get married or have union with the 2 widows of his 2 no more son’s.

Bhishma refuses saying, that he has taken one decision and now he will stick to it no matter what.

On one hand, you see integrity and on the flip side, the decision taken long back has brought negative consequences.

What we learn from this story is as an organization we need to take decisons quickly with a context thats empowering and that takes the game forward. Decisions taken today may turn out to be complete opposite over a period of time or in another circumstances – could be internal or external. Context of the existence, survival and growth of the organization keeps changing So changing the decisions at right time is also utmost necessity. And not to take short-sighted decisions!

If you do not change your decision making instinct with the context, prepare for a storm, prepare for the “Mahabharata”.

Organization is bigger than the Individual

December 1, 2014 Management lessons - Indian Epics Management Mantra post

 

 

 
Yudhishtira is a noble king, an epitome of wisdom and righteousness. Yet he decides to gamble away his entire kingdom not just once but twice.

Draupadi asks, who gave him to right to lose her, his brothers and the Kingdom? Being a king, does not entitle him to gamble away his kingdom. Yudhistira loses his self control and gambles away everything, thinking that the kingdom, the property, his brothers and his wife are all his “possessions”.

The organization (Kingdom) is bigger than the individual (King / CEO). The individual has no right to destroy the organization, even if he has founded it. He may be the manager or owner but the organization is certainly greater than him.

Passion in work versus doing for the sake of doing it!

December 1, 2014 Management lessons - Indian Epics Management Mantra post

 

 

 

Once Arjuna asks Krishna why Yudhishthira is called Dharmaraja (Religion king) and Karna as Daanveer (Donation king), as both never refused alms to anyone. Krishna says, wait for some time &I will let you know.

After a month, in whole kingdom it was raining heavily, both (Krishna and Arjuna) in disguise of Brahmins (wise men/priests) first go to Yudhishthira, saying that we are doing a Yagna and need 100Kg of Sandal wood. Yudhishthira immediately sent his servants across the kingdom, and later regretfully refused by saying that it is difficult to find dry Sandal wood anywhere as its raining heavily. Let me know if I can arrange anything else for you. Both Brahmins said “thanks” and left the place.

Then they went to Karna and made the same demand. Karna thought for a while and said it is raining heavily outside, it is least likely to get dry Sandal wood. He takes out his bow and arrow and cuts all windows and doors of his palace and compiles them for the Brahmins.

Later Krishna says to Arjuna, it is not that Yudhishthira would have refused if we would have asked for wood from his doors and windows. But this idea didn’t strike Yudhishthira in first place. Yudhishthira donates because it is written in Dharma (religion), Karna donates because he likes to do it.

The message of the story is very subtle. So many times in our personal and professional life we are doing just for the sake of doing it. There is no heart and soul into it. There is no passion for doing it.

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