valmiki ramayanlions2015abridged

Leadership Skills from Valmiki Ramayana

Lions Club of BombayMarol, Malad Marve, Marol Metro & Vile Parle West

District 323 A3

M Hariharan

M Hariharan 111 October 2015, Sunday

I salute sage Valmiki - the nightingale, who sings in sweet voice the sweet name of

Rama, Rama, from the 'tree' of poetry.


Road ahead

• Modern Management Thoughts

• Leadership Lessons

• Hanuman - Implementation – Fulfillment of Strategy


Ramcharan on Leadership

M Hariharan 4

Leaders who do not produce other leaders is not a good leader

आगता त्वाम् इयम् बुद्धिः स्वजा वैनयिकी च या |भृशम् उत्सहसे तात रयितुम् पृथिवीम् अथप || २-११२-१६

अमात्यैः च सुहृद्भैः च बुद्िमद्भैः च मद्िथभैः |सवव कायावथि सम्मन्त्र्य सुमहान््त्य अथपकारि || २-११२-१७

“ You are intelligent and competent by nature and training to rule”

“ Take counsel from intelligent counselors, ministers and companions and get the things done”

इमम् अथप अंगदम् वीरम् यौवराजे्य अथभषेचय || ४-२६-१२

11 October 2015, Sunday


• वाक्यज्ञम् (Sentencious), से्नह िुक्तम् (Friendly), अररन्दम (Enemy destroyer)

• Learned and to the point ४-३-२९

• Faultless expressions ४-३-३०

• एवम् थवधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पाथिववस्य तु |

थसद्ध्यद्ि थह किम् तस्य कायाविाम् गतयोऽनघ || ४-३-३४ (if this sort of envoy is not there to a king, really how can that king accomplishes his ways and means... )

• एवम् गुि गियर् युक्ता यस्य सु्यैः कािय साधकािः |

तस्य थसद्ध्यद्ि सवेऽिाव दूत वाक्य प्रचोथदताैः || ४-३-३५ ("Should a king have this kind of work accomplishers with a variety of virtues, all his objectives will be achieved impelled by such an envoy's words..." )

M Hariharan 5

Leaders have to identify early the potential high-potential leaders and really try to make self-aware what their [ God's]

gift is … and how to put them in the right jobs.



• िद्वानरेन्द्रस्य बलं तेन सवेि संवृतैः |

हनूमत्प्रमुखैशै्चव यूिपयैः सह लक्ष्मि || ६-८५-२१

• जाम्बवेनाियपयतना सहसयने्यन संवृतैः |

जथह तं राक्षससुतं मायाबलसमद्ितम् || ६-८५-२२

• अयं त्वां सथचवयैः साधं महात्मा रजनीचरिः |

अयिज्ञस्तस्य मािानां पृष्ठतोऽनुगथमष्यथत || ६-८५-२३

• Take the army of Sugriva, with Hanuman as their head, protected by Jambavan, and Vibhishana who knows Indrajit’s tricks will be guiding you

M Hariharan 6

High-performance leader is different from high-performance individual. And the difference is a high-performance leader

gets things done.


Drucker on Leadership

M Hariharan 7

Only definition of Leader is someone who has followers



M Hariharan 8

An effective leader is not someone who is loved or admired. He or she is someone whose followers do the right things. Popularity is not leadership. Results are.



M Hariharan 9

Leaders are highly visible. They therefore set examples

त्वम् थह शूरैः च बलवान् हन्या एतान् न संशयैः |

स्वयम् थनहिुम् इच््छहथम सवावन् एव थनशाचरान् || ३-२४-१४

"You are a stalwart, a forceful one, and for sure you can eliminate them all, it is doubtless, but I long to eliminate all of the nightwalkers, personally" Rama said thus to Lakshmana.

तद्िन् प्रथवषे्ट तु गुहाम् लक्ष्मिे सह सीतया |

हन्त यनिुयक्तम् इथत उक्त्वा रामैः कवचम् आथवशत् || ३-२४-१६

On Lakshmana's entering into cave along with Seetha, Rama said to himself, "thank goodness, it is a good-idea!" and thus saying he donned his shield.



M Hariharan 10

Leadership is not rank, privileges, titles, or money. It is responsibility.


Boris Gorysberg & Michael Slind

M Hariharan 11

Smart leaders today, we have found, engage with employeesin a way that resembles an ordinary person-to-personconversation more than it does a series of commands fromon high.

Leadership Is a Conversation - How to improve employee engagement and alignment in today’s flatter, more networked organizations – HBR June 2012



M Hariharan 12

Intimacy: Getting close (Gaining trust, Listening well, Getting personal)


Four essential attributes of interpersonal conversation



M Hariharan 13

Interactivity : Promoting Dialogue



• सुहृदा थह अिव कृचे्चषु युक्तम् बुद्िमता सता |समिेन अथप संदेष्टुम् शाश्वतीम् भूथतम् इच्चता ||६-१७-३३

• "An efficient and intelligent person ever desirous of everlasting well being of his friends should properly advise them well in difficult matters. Hence, tell your opinion one by one"



M Hariharan 14

Inclusion : Expanding employee roles (Brand ambassadors, Thought leaders, Story Tellers)





अभयम् सवव भूतेभ्यो ददायम एतद् व्रतम् मम |

आनय एनम् हरर शे्रष्ठ दत्तम् अस्य अििम् मिा ||६-१८-३४

11 October 2015, Sunday M Hariharan 15

Intentionality : Pursuing an agenda



Road ahead



• Indiscretion of a Leader



Leadership Lessons


Analysis and Foresight of a Leader• यवयििम् कृत पूवयम् ते िरतेन कदा न यकम्

ईदृशम् वा ििम् ते अद्य िरतम् िो अत्र शन्कसे ||

२-९७-१४

– "Has Bharata at any time done any harm to you previously? What so the reason for you to be so apprehensive of Bharata now?“


Analysis and Foresight of a Leader

• त्वाम् तु वेयदतुम् इच््छहायम कस्यत्वम् काअयस कस्य वा |त्वम् यह तावन्मनोज्ञा. आगंगी रािसी

ियतिायस मे || ३-१७-१८

– "I too wish to know about you. Whose wife are you? What is your name? Or, whose daughter are you? By the way, you are with a most enthralling personality, and then you must be a demoness


Colloboration• षड् िुक्तिो लोके िायििः सवयम्यवमृश्यते (Six ideations are to be analysed for Colloboration)

• 1] sandhi a covenant with adverse kings;

• 2] vigraha continuing hostilities; • 3] yaana waging war; • 4] aasana sit out for proper time; • 5] dvaidhii bhaava creating

factions and vicissitudes in enemy groups;

• 6] samaashraya taking shelter under a coequal.


Collaboration• वानरेन्द्रो महावीियिः तेजोवान् अयमत िििः |

सत्य संधो यवनीतिः च धृयतमान् मयतमान् महान् || ३-७२-१३

– "He that Sugreeva is a masterful one among vanara-s, highly mettlesome, self-resplendent, and illimitable is his self-radiance... and he is also truth-bound and culture-bound... a mastermind, master-hand and a taskmaster...


Collaboration• दििः िगल्भो द्िुयतमान् महा बल पराक्रमिः |

भ्राता यववायसतो वीर राज्य हेतो महात्मना || ३-७२-१४

– "He is a capable adventurer, a courageous exploiter and incomparable one in intrepidity and a brave one in incursions, and his personality will be coruscating ever and anon, for he is the son of Sun-god... but he is banished by his self-conceited brother owing to the reasons of kingdom...


Collaboration

• न च ते सो अवमन्तव्यिः सुग्रीवो वानर अयधपिः || ३-७२-

१८कृतज्ञिः काम रूपी च सहाि अर्थी च वीियवान्

– "You shall not look down on that lord of monkeys taking him as a lowly simian, why because that Sugreeva is a valiant one, a guise changing wizard and presently he is in the need of a bolsterer, and if you render help he will be obligated to you for ever...


Preparedness of a Leader

• अनागत यवधानम् तु कतयव्यम् शुिम्इच््छहता |आपदम् शंकमानेन पुरुषेण यवपयश्चता ||

३-२४-११

• "Preventive measures are to be effectuated for any imminent situation by any well-wishing person, or by a person with misgivings about a danger, or by a person of talent


Reaction to a crisis

• आवां तु दृष्ट्वा पयततौ यवसंज्ञौ |

यनवृत्तिुधौ हतरोषहषौ|

धु्रवं िवेक्ष्यत्यमराररवासं |

असौ समादाि रणाग्रलक्ष्मीम् || ६-७३-७२

– "Finding both of us fallen unconscious without displaying any joy or anger as also having desisted from fighting, Indrajit will certainly return to Lanka, after having obtained laurels of battle in its beginning itself."


Reaction to a crisis

• ततसु्त तायवन्द्रयजदस्त्रजालैर् |

बिूवतुस्तत्र तदा यवशस्तौ|

स चायप तौ तत्र यवषादयित्वा |

ननाद हषायद्िुयध रािसेन्द्रिः || ६-७३-७३

– Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana there became struck by a multitude of arrows of Indrajit. That leader of demons also there, causing affliction to both of them, roared with a thrill of rapture in battle.


Getting work from an Expert

• कामं न त्वन् समाधेििःपुरन्दररर्थोयचतिः |िुिुतु्सरहमेकाग्रिः स्मारिे त्वां न

यशििे || ६-१०६-१३– "You need not be instructed by

me, accustomed as you are to drive the chariot of Indra the lord of celestials. Keen as I am to fight with a close attention, I am just reminding you and not teaching you."


Four strategies

• न साम रिहसु् गुणाि कल्पते |

• "In the case of demons, the strategy of negotiation is not practicable.

• न दनम् अर्थय उपयचतेषु वतयते |

• For those persons having abundant wealth, the strategy of bribery is not suitable.

• न िेद साध्या बल दयपयता जनािः |

• For persons who are proud of their strength, the strategy of sowing dissension is not amenable.

• पराक्रमिः तु एष मम इह रोचते || ५-४१-३

• Prowess alone is agreeable for me here."


Implementation Kumbakarna to Ravana

• ििः पश्चातू्पवयकािाययण कुिायदैश्वियमाद्थर्थतिः |

पूवं चोत्तरकािाययण न स वेद निानिौ || ६-६३-५

• "He who, abiding in power, performs duties to be done earlier at a later stage and duties to be done later, at an early stage, does not know what is a right course and what is a wrong course."


ImplementationKumbakarana to Ravana

• त्रिाणाम् पञ्चधा िोगम् कमयणाम् ििः िपद्यते |सयचवैिः समिम् कृत्वा स सम्यगयिवतयते || ६-६३-७– "He, who acts according to an agreement done with his

counsellors, considering three types of duties*, by harassing five types of means**, moves along a right course."

• *1). Conclusion of peace through conciliation. 2) acceptance of allegiance through gift. 3) invasion, as a method of coercion.

• **1) The method of initiating an actions. 2) Personality and material to be worked upon. 3) Time and place of action. 4) Provision against mischance and 5) chances of success.


ImplementationKumbakarana to Ravana

• यवनाशिन्तो ितायरम् सयहतािः शतु्रयिबुयधैिः |

यवपरीतायन कृत्यायन कारिन्तीह मद्िणिः || ६-६३-१७

– "Some counsellors, colluding with some learned adversaries, spoil their king and make them do wrong deeds."


Individuality

• इह इदम् धनुवयरम् पायणना संसृ्पशायम– Now, I want to feel this bow.

• रर्थम् आरुह्य गच्चामिः पन्थानम् अकुतिः ििम् -– Let us quickly mount the chariot and take a route which

has no fear from any quarter

• तस्मात् गृहीत्वा वैदेहीम् शर पायणिः धनुर् धरिः |गुहाम् आश्रि शैलस्य दुगायम् पादप संकुलाम् ||– "Hence, wield your bow, keep arrows ready at hand, and

taking Vaidehi with you seek shelter in a impassable cave of a mountain overgrown with trees.

• दत्तम् अस्य अििम् मिा– I have given an assurance of safety to him.


Road ahead





Hanuman- the Redoubtable ally of a leader - वाक्य कोथवदैः

• संभ्रमिः त्यजताम् एष सवविः वायल कृते महान् |

मलिोऽिम् यगररवरो ििम् न इह अद्स्त वायलनिः || ४-२-१४

– "Perplexity be warded off... all of you discarded that great fear from Vali or his cruelty... there is no scare from Vali here on this best mountain, for it is Mt. Malaya...


Hanuman- the Redoubtable ally of a leader - वाक्य कोथवदैः

• बुद्ध यवज्ञान संपन्न इयितैिः सवयम्आचर |न यह अबुद्धम् गतो राजा सवय िूतायन शाद्स्त यह || ४-२-१८

– "Keep your intellect and wisdom firm, and express all your intents rightly in your body language in all your undertakings... certainly, a king getting into unintelligence cannot command all his subjects..." So said Hanuman to Sugreeva.


Hanuman – The four Traits

• िस्य ते्वतायन चत्वारर वानरेन्द्र िर्था तव || ५-१९८धृयतदृययिमययतदायकं्ष्य स कमयसु न सीदयत

• "O best among Vanaras! Whoever has the four qualities of courage, vision, intellect and skill, all these four virtues like you, such a person will not fail in any task."


The Fifth Trait

• अयनवेदिः यश्रिो मूलम् अयनवेदिः परम् सुखम् |अयनवेदो यह सततम् सवय अरे्थषु िवतयकिः || ५-१२-१०– "Non-depression is root of development. Absence of

despondency is the greatest comfort. Self reliance always is indeed the promoter in all matters."

• करोयत सफलम् जन्तोिः कमय िच् च करोयत सिः |तस्माद् अयनवेद क्ऱ्तम् ित्नम् चेिे अहम् उत्तमम् || ५-१२-११– "Whatever action a human does that action of man is

made to be successful by non-depression. For that reason I will perform a best effort together with non-depression.


Implementation Capabilities

• कािे कमययण यनयदयििः िो बहूयन अयप साधिेत् |पूवय कािय यवरोधेन स काियम् कतुयम् अहययत || ५-४१-५

– "He alone can accomplish his purpose, who implements many (secondary) tasks even after the initial task has been carried through, without impairing the previous achievement."

• न यह एकिः साधको हेतुिः स्वल्पस्यअयप इह कमयणिः |िो यह अर्थयम् बहुधा वेद स समर्थो अर्थय साधने || ५-४१-६

– 'There is indeed no single exclusive method to accomplish a purpose however small a task may be. On the other hand, whoever knows to do a task in many ways, he alone is capable of achieving that task."


Implementation Capabilities• ग्रहणे चायप रिोयिमयहने्म गुणदशयनम् |

रािसेने्द्रण सम्वादस्तस्माद्गृह्णनु्त माम् परे || ५-४८-४४

– "Even if I were captured by the demons, a great advantage is foreseen. There will be a dialogue with Ravana. Therefore, let the enemies capture me."


Implementation Capabilities• स यनयश्चतार्थयिः परवीरहन्ता |समीक्ष्यकारी यवयनवृत्तचेििः |परैिः िसह्यायिगतैयनयगृह्य |

ननाद तैसै्तिः पररिर्त्स्यमानिः || ५-४८-४५

– That Hanuman, the destroyer of enemies and who acted after fully considering the pros and cons, ascertained his objective and stayed motionless. Approached and captured forcibly by the enemies as also frightened by them, he made a loud scream.


Opinion on Vibhishana

• न वादान् न अयप सम्घषायन् न आयधक्यान् न च कामतिः |

वक्ष्यायम वचनम् राजन् िर्था अर्थयम् राम गौरवात् ||६-१७-५२

– "O, king! O, Rama! I am talking neither for argument, nor for competition with other counselors, nor for superiority, nor out of passion for debate but on account of importance of this matter in hand."


Opinion on Vibhishana• अज्ञात रूपैिः पुरुषैिः स राजन् पृच्च्यताम् इयत |िद् उक्तम् अत्र मे िेिा कायचद् अद्स्त समीयिता ||६-१७-५९– "O, king! Whatever was told by your counselors that let Vibhishana

be questioned by spies of unknown identity, my considered view is as follows:

• पृच्च्यमानो यवशने्कत सहसा बुद्धमान् वचिः |तत्र यमत्रम् िदुषे्यत यमथ्य पृिम् सुखआगतम् ||६-१७-६०– "A wise man being questioned suddenly would be apprehensive of

that questioning. In those circumstances, an easily obtained friend becomes faithless upon facing a deceitful questioning."


Opinion on Vibhishana

• न त्वस्य बु्रवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुि िावता |

िसन्नम् वदनम् च अयप तस्मान् मे न अद्स्त संशििः ||६-१७-६२

– "I am not seeing any bad intention at all in his talk. His face is also bright. Hence, I do not doubt him.“


Opinion on Vibhishana• उद्योगम् तव समे्प्रक्ष्य यमथ्या वृत्तम् च रावणम् |

वायलनिः च वधम् शु्रत्वा सुग्रीवम् च अयिषेयचतम् ||६-१७-६६राज्यम् िार्थयिमानिः च बुद्ध पूवयम् इह आगतिः |

एतावत् तु पुरस् कृत्य िुज्यते त््व अस्य सम्ग्रहिः ||६-१७-६७– "Seeing your perseverance and the improper conduct of

Ravana as well as hearing about Vali having been killed and Sugriva anointed as king, he deliberately came here, with a desire to obtain the kingdom of demons. On consideration of this aspect alone, he is worthy of acceptance by us."


Eight Excellences• अयतलिणसंपनं्न माधुियगुणिूयषतम् ||६-११३-२६बुद्ध्या ह्यिाििा िुकं्त त्वमेवाहययस िायषतुम्

– "You alone can utter these words, endowed with exceedingly good attributes, embellished with a grace of style and filled with an intelligence, consisting of eight excellences.*"

• *1) Keenness to hear discourse on the Spirit 2) readiness to hear such discourses, 3) receptivity, 4) retentive power, 5) reasoning for and 6) against a proposition, 7) the faculty of comprehension and 8) realization of truth


Final word(s) on Hanuman• तेजो धृयतियशो दाकं्ष्य सामथं्य

यवनिो नििः |

पौरुषन् यवक्रमो बुद्धियद्स्मने्नतायन

यनत्यदा || ६-१२८-८२

– Sharpness, firmness, renown, dexterity, competence, modesty, prudence, virility, prowess and intelligence are ever present


Conclusion

• आिुष्यमारोग्यकरं िशसं्य |सौभ्रातृकं बुद्धकरं शुिं च |श्रोतव्यमेतयन्निमेन सद्ि |

राख्यानमोजस्करमृद्धकामैिः || ६-१२८-१२५– This narrative is to be

listened invariably by good people, seeking for wisdom, longevity, health, fame, fraternity, intelligence, welfare and brilliance.


valmiki ramayanlions2015abridged

Leadership & Management