Vedic Management

Volume 2, Number 1, January-March 2013 ISSN (P):2279-0918, (O):2279-0926

International Journal of Entrepreneurship & Business Environment Perspectives Pezzottaite Journals 245 | P a g e

THE GLIMPSES OF MANAGEMENT QUALITIES IN VEDIC LITERATURE

K.V. Murali Krishna1

ABSTRACT

The Vedic management is neither religious nor spiritual. We find the glimpses of Management in Vedas and Vedic related

literature including Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Puranas and Itihasas, in form of principles and messages. These principles

and messages are based on individual, social, national and universal principles and are always complimenting and never

contradicting. They are coordinating and never conflicting. They are meant for revolutionary and violent internal changes and

evolutionary and silent external changes.

KEYWORDS

Vedic, Literature, Management, Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Puranas and Itihasas etc.

INTRODUCTION

The Vedas consider human being as one group among the family members of the living and non living beings on the earth. The

Vedic principles are based on satya- dharma jnana -ahimsa and so on. They always focus on the iccha Shakti, jnaana Shakti and kriya Shakti. The Vedic messages focus on Dharma (dharmic way of living); Artha (acquiring prosperity through dharmic way);

Kaama (fulfilling the expectations through dharmic ways) and Mosksha (getting detached).

The Vedas and Vedic knowledge always consider human being as the manifestation and manipulation of the divinity. So the

Vedic scholars say Prajnaanam brahma inherent intrinsic awareness and consciousness are the divinity in all living beings. That awareness is in me/us hence Vedas say aham brahmaasmi. It is present in you too hence thathwam asi. The divinity is present in an atom anoraneeyaan and in the universe mahato maheeyaan. Human beings are considered as the children of

immortality, srunvanthu viswe amruthasya putraa.

The Vedas declare that there are three pathways for anyone to opt, first one is (the pathway of) brahmajnaana prayaanam, second dharma jnaana prayaanam and the third karmajnaana prayaanam. Of which a manager has to opt for second and the

third, i.e. doing the karma without a hidden agenda but with dharmic values. Vedas observe divinity in all natural resources like,

soil, air, water, oushadhee, animals, plants, forest, earth, Sun, and so on. Hence over utilization and exploitation of anything are

objected with strong words. Vedas consider their existence is for the mutual benefit and welfare..

Practical Principles of Management: In Vedas and its off springs such as Upanishads, Smritis, samhitaas, Darshanaas, Puraanaas and so on, we find several invocations pertaining to the qualities of management.

Thamaso maa jyothir gamaya - lead us from darkness to light,

Saha now bhunaktu - let us share the result (food) of the work together,

Aano bhadraa krathavo yanthu viswataha - let noble thoughts come towards us from all over the world,

Bhadram pasyema akshabhir yajathraa - let us (managers) see the glorious positives through our eyes (for implementing in their work),

Sarvey bhavanthu sukhina - let all become happy,

Sarve santhu niraamaya - let all become healthy,

Sarve bhadraani pasyanthu - let all be seen in glory,

Saptha dweepa nivaaseenaam praneenaam akshayam upathishtau - let all living being in all the seven continents become happy and prosperous,

The Six qualifications needed for manager are Uddhyamam, saahasam, dhairyam, bhuddhi, sakti, paraakramam, shadethey, yathra varthanthey, daivam thathra prakaasayeth - where the six qualifications of entrepreneurship, facing

any challenges, courage, wisdom, power, capacity to thrash out the obstacles exist, the blessings of the divine power

will automatically be there,

The ten qualifications for a manager - Ahimsa sathyam astheyam brahmachryam aparigraham soucham santhosham sthapa swaadhyaaya eeswara pranidhaanam - Non violence, understanding the truth/fact/essence, non

1Associate Professor, Silver Jublee Government College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India, [email protected]



stealing, knowing the ultimate purpose of life, self reliance, cleanliness, pleasant happy vision, mission oriented

work, acquiring the knowledge on the subject of work, faith in divinity.

KAUTILYAS ARTHASASTRA AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The Arthashastra (4th Century B.C) is treatise on political economy which was written by Kautilya in the ancient India. Kautilya

was also known as Canakya and Visnugupta and he was the prime minister and adviser for Emperor Chandragupta Maurya,

who was the contemporary of Alexander the Great. The Arthashastra contains 150 chapters, which are classified by topic in 15

books, which covers three parts namely; national security issues, administration of justice and economics development policies.

Kautilya wrote this Arthashastra for his king Chandragupta Maurya and stated in its introduction that it has been written as a

guide for those who govern. The foundations of management in organization are revealed from the Arthashastra, which can provide guidance to present managers and leaders of organizations. In his Arthashastra, Kautilya takes an inside-out approach to

management, which is self management first before management of every other thing. He advised the future organizational

managers and leaders to firstly conquer the enemies within such as desires, anger, greed, arrogance, infatuation, envy, pride or ego

and foolhardiness, as it is often said that one who conquers the self, conquers all.

The roots of Arthashatra can be traced from the Rig Veda. The Arthashastra deals primarily with economics and politics.

Kautilya with regards to self control, which includes the importance of control over the senses by giving up kama, krodha, lobha,

mana, mada and harsha i.e., lust, anger, pride, arrogance and foolhardiness. The first teaching of Kautilya is, to conquer the

internal enemies before you conquer the external enemies. Kautilyas Arthashastra is one of the ancient literatures which can serve this purpose. Kautilyas Arthashastra has a lot of lessons to offer to organizational management, yet there are many managers from outside India and even Indians who are not aware of the lessons of Kautilyas \ Arthashastra in organizational management. The Kautilyas Arthashastra deals with different aspects of management which includes strategic management, financial management, accounting, human resource management, corporate governance, social responsibility, etc.

The first five Kautilyas sutras (aphorisms) provide relevance on the foundations of management in organizations as follows:

a. Sukhasya mulam dharmah the basis of happiness is righteousness or ethics

b. Dharmasya mulam arthah the basis of righteousness or ethics is resources

c. Arthasya mulam rajyam the basis of resources is kingdom (organization or enterprise)

d. Rajyamulam indriyajayah organization or enterprise is rooted in conquering the senses

e. Indriyajayasya mulam vinayah conquering organs is rooted in training and discipline

The above five sutras (aphorisms) although written in a different context, a careful analysis and interpretation reveals basic

lessons in foundations of management. Kautilya stated that happiness is obtained not by wealth and profit only but by doing

things rightly and doing right things, sukhasya mulam dharma. Dharma without wealth according to Kautilya is toothless dharmasya mulam artha, and wealth without dharma is useless because a poor person cannot support the entire society.

"Arthashastra is followed by the best of kings."

Mahabharata

Bhagavad-Gita & Management:

The Bhagavad-Gita is an encyclopedia of human life from cradle to cremation. It is a magic wand, that can transform an

individual from a state of distress into an individual all set for activity. There are several illustrations in Bhagavad-Gita relating to

the management tactics not only to overcome the crisis but also to maintain mental equilibrium during the crisis. The Saankhya yoga of Bhagavad-Gita says,

Klaibhyam maasmagamaha paartha!, naitatva yupapadyate

Kshudram hridaya daurbhalyam, tyaktottishta parantapa! 1

Do not get depressed. This does not suit to a warrior like you. Discard all mental weaknesses and prepare yourself for the battle. The person who is at the helm of management should never lose his/her heart over failures. An ideal manager should always be

with a positive attitude.

Lord Sri Krishna in the Saankhya Yoga of Bhagavad-Gita advises entrepreneurs to perform the duties that are assigned, without expecting their fruits.

karmanye vaadikaaraste

maaphaleshu kadaachana



maa karmaphala heturbhur

maate sangotsva karmani.

Do your duty. Do not expect the fruits of your duty. Let the fruits of duty come to you on their own. Do not show aversion towards duty. All managers should invariably adopt the policy of perceiving divinity in duty.

In the Jnana Karma Sanyaasa Yoga, Lord Sri Krishna explains what entrepreneurs should do so as to prosper in their endeavor. .

Shraddhaavaan labhatejnanam

Tatpara samyateendriyaha

Jnanam labdwaam paraam

shaantim achirena adhigachhati

One who has concentration, inclination to learn and who has conquered senses, alone will be imparted with Knowledge, which ultimately brings him bliss and peace. These should be the qualities of an ideal manager.

In the Aatma samyama yoga, Lord Krishna stresses the concept of self effort and self development, for the entrepreneurs to attain higher goals.

Uddharet aatma atmaanam,

Aatmaana mavasadayet

Aatmaiva aatmano bhandhuhu,

Aatmaiva ripuraatmanaha

One should strive to develop by ones own effort; one should not let ones self down in an abyss because he himself is both friend and foe depending upon the prevailing circumstances. An ideal manager should minimize external dependency and enhance self sustenance capabilities of his firm.

Thus the Vedic Literature advocates the divine principle of unity of the cosmic consciousness, social consciousness and individual

consciousness. Let there be adhyaathma saanthi (peace for self) aadhiboudhika saanthi (peace around us) adhidevatha saanthi

(peace in the universe). Let all Entrepreneurships prosper under the administration of efficient managers. The ultimate aim of the

quality management should be lokaa samasthaa sukhino bhavanthu: let every individual of this Universe be happy and prosper.

AA NO BHADRAAHA KRATAVO YANTU VISWATAHA

RIG VEDA

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.

REFERENCES

1. Balakrishnan, Muniapan. Kautilyas Arthashastra and Perspectives-On Organizational Management.

2. Gopalakrishnan, N. The Vedic Managementr. Retrieved from www.iishglobal.org,

3. Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage. Retrieved from www.iishglobal.org

4. Bhagavad-Gita. Gorakhpur: Gita Press

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Vedic Management

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