The Bhagavad Gita

A compendium of Management Lesson

Definition of Management
Management is a body of knowledge that enables entities to deal with a multitude of situations involving people, process and the environment, to ensure work is done efficiently to deliver goods and services useful to the society.

Good Management
Good management must result in greater satisfaction for all stake-holders. If we carefully study the Gita, we understand that the central issue is all about doing work, in the most efficient manner.

Situation: Arjunas Conflict

Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Arjuna, casting his eyes on all the kinsmen stationed on opposing sides, was overcome with deep pity and sorrowfully spoke; My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, My body is shaken and my hair stands on end.

Conflict
The bow Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin is on fire. I cannot hold myself steady; my mind seems to whirl. I see omens of evil.

Arjunas Fallacy
I do not perceive any good in slaughtering my own people in battle. I desire neither victory nor empire nor even any pleasure. For whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures, they are arrayed here in battle, having staked their wealth and lives.

Fallacy
What joy can be ours in killing these sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone will possess us if we kill these felons. Therefore we ought not to kill our kinsmen. Decay of family>adharma>women of the family becomes corrupt>a mixing of casts.

Fallacy
This mixture leads into hell. Far better would it be for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, should slay me in the battle, unarmed and unresisting. Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrow and sank down on his chariot-seat, his mind overcome with grief.

The Message of Strength

Kutastva kasmalamidam visame samupasthitam; Anaryaustam-asvargyam-akirtikaram-arjuna. 2/2 Sri Krishna said: In this crisis, O Arjuna, whence comes such lowness of spirit, unbecoming to an Aryan, dishonourable, and an obstacle to the attaining of heaven?

Notes
With words of biting reproach Krishna tries to rouse Arjunas drooping spirits. Arya--a noble-minded person; Sri Krishnas shock treatment. This verse gives the negative approach; Next verse gives the positive approach.

The Message of Strength

Klaibyam masma gamah partha naitat tvayi upapadyate; Ksudram hrdayadaurbalyam tyaltvottistha parantapa.2/3 Do not yield to unmanliness, O son of Pritha. It does not become you. Shake off this base faint-heartedness and arise, O scorcher of enemies!

Explanation
UnmanlinessArjuna has covered his momentary weakness with a mask of religious feelings. It does not befit youan educational maxim. The childs only language is weeping. We have wept long enough. No more weeping, but stand on your feet and be men.-- Swami Vivekananda

Explanationcont.
Face the brutes, face the brutes. In social relations, we can do two things to each other: either destroy ones confidence, or increase that selfconfidence. Weakness and virtue can never go together. Virtue is strength; weakness is no virtue at all.

Explanationcont.
Weakness can be removed only through strength. Dirt cannot wash dirt. Only pure water can wash dirt. Two great virtues, fearlessness and compassion, difficult to co-exist. You can be fearful, so that others are frighten. Or, you can be so weak, anybody can frighten you.

Rare Combination
Yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate ca yah; Harsamarsa-bhayodudvegaih mukto yah ca me priyah. He by whom the world is not afflicted and whom the world cannot afflict, he who is free from joy, anger, fear and anxietyhe is dear to me. 12/15

Controlling Feelings/Emotions
Arjuna can now control his feelings and emotions. That is the beginning of human development. No animal can control feelings. A dust-stormandhi; Feeling should be controlled by thinking. All aspects of the subject should be studied before you enter into the stage of action.

Thinking Animal
-Swami Brahmananda:-- a strong letter etc. We call a human being is a thinking animal. But when thinking is removed, the animal only remains.

Calm and Collected Mood

Arjuna said; how can I fight with arrows on the battlefield against Bhisma and Drona, who ara worthy of my worship?2/4

It would be better, indeed, to live on alms in this world rather than to slay these highsouled teachers. But if I kill them, even here I shall enjoy wealth and desires with their blood.2/5

Argument focused
We do not know which would be the better for us: that we should conquer them or they should conquer us.2/6 My mind confused about dharma, I supplicate You: tell me in sooth which is better. I am Your disciple. Instruct me, who have taken refuge in You.

Discipleship
Unsought advice is not allowed in Vedanta. Unless you seek something, what is given to you has no value. All of us have the battle of life, facing problems, overcoming them, trying to achieve life-fulfillment.