The document summarizes key management lessons that can be derived from the ancient Hindu text of the Bhagavad Gita. It discusses how the Gita provides guidance on developing effective managerial skills like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. Some specific lessons highlighted include the importance of detachment from outcomes, maintaining equanimity, developing a composed mindset, avoiding anger and ego, and focusing on effective communication. The overall message is that the Gita's teachings on concepts like duty, discipline, wisdom and self-mastery can help improve the qualities of leadership and management.

1. Prepared&Presented By- Devvrat Langayan Under the guidance of- Mr. Mohd. Qais Rezvani
(Professor), University School Of Management, KUK
BHAGAVAD GITA
AND
MANAGEMENT
1

2. SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA
One of the ancient Indian spiritual text is the Bhagavad Gita or “Song of the lord” which
provides the essence of the Vedas , which was delivered by Shri Krishna to Arjuna more than 50
centuries ago on the land of kurukshetra, India.
One of the greatest contribution of India to the world is Holy Gita.
Arjuna got mentally depressed when he saw his relatives with whom he has
to fight.
To motivate him The Bhagavad Gita is preached in the battle field by Lord
Krishna to Arjuna as a counselling to do his duty while multitudes of men
stood by waiting. 2

3.  In the today’s scenario management is the essential part of
every one’s life. Management is getting things done
through and with people, efficiently and effectively.
Management involves planning, organizing, staffing,
directing and controlling human efforts.
 Bhagavad Gita shlokas by management view -
The philosophy of Bhagavad Gita should not be viewed
from devotional perspectives only but also as a guide in
developing managerial effectiveness.
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FROM
THE BHAGAVAD GITA
3

4.  The critical question in all managers’ minds is how to be
effective in their job.
 The answer to this fundamental question is found in
Bhagavad Gita, which repeatedly proclaims that ‘You must
try to manage yourself’. The reason is that unless a
manager reaches a level of excellence and effectiveness,
he or she will be merely a face in the crowd.
 The modern management concepts like vision, leadership,
motivation, excellence in work, goals, decision making
and planning, are all discussed in Bhagavad Gita. The
Bhagavad Gita tackles these issues from the grass root
level of human thinking.
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FROM
THE BHAGAVAD GITA (Contd.)
4

5. RELATION WITH MANAGEMENT
5

6. HOW DID THE PANDAVAS WIN ?
6

7. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS
PLANNING
ORGANIZING
STAFFING
DIRECTING
CONTROLLLING 7

8. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS AND BHAGAVAD GITA
 Planning-It is the basic function of management. It deals with chalking
out a future course of action. Bhagavad Gita guides us to develop
managerial efficiency and effectiveness to achieve the desired results.
 Organizing- From establishing internal processes and structures to
knowing which employees are best suited for specific tasks. Bhagavad
Gita turn human beings weaknesses into strengths and shares the
responsibilities among the people.
 Staffing- The selection and training of individual for specific jobs and
functions. In Bhagavad Gita, selecting right set of individuals in the
team.
8

9.  Directing -Directing includes prepare framework of an effective
work climate and creating opportunity for motivation, supervising,
scheduling and discipline. When Arjuna reached the battle field he lost
his courage to fight when he saw his young and the old relatives as his
opponents and felt that he will have to kill them. He resisted to fight and
dropped his arms. That time Lord Krishna directed him and said that you
should focus only on your goal.
Controlling- Controlling means the power to control how something is
managed or done . In Mahabharata, Controlling an army of 1.53 million
soldiers and warriors to action against a bigger army was not an easy
task. The 1.53 million soldiers were divided into 7 divisions led by a
commander each further controlled by a supreme commander.
9

10. LESSONS FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA
WORK COMMITMENT
This shloka teaches us “detachment” from the fruits or results of actions
performed in the course of one’s duty. Attaining this state of mind called
‘Nishkama Karma’.
THE LESSON- Detach yourself from the end reward and
concentrate on the work itself. Being dedicated work has to
mean working for the sake of work, generating excellence for its
own sake. It prevents the mind from undue stress that people
create in their work environment.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन ।
र्ा कर्मफलहेतुर्ुमर्ाम ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मधि ॥
10

11. EQUANIMITY
र्ात्रास्पर्ामस्तु कौन्तेय र्ीतोष्णसुखदुुःखदाुः।
आगर्ापाधयनोऽधनत्यास्तांस्तस्तधतक्षस्व र्ारत।।
Shri Krishna says, O descendent of Bharat, one must learn to
tolerate the ups and downs without being disturbed. They
characterise the world of DUALITY.
THE LESSON- Composed mind-set. Composed people
generally hide their frustrations well and handle
themselves professionally, even during stress, and may
radiate a sense of calm that helps diffuse anxious
environments. 11

12. WORK CULTURE
Shri Krishna elaborates on two types of work culture:
1. ‘DAIVI SAMPAT’ or Divine work culture -
दुुःखेष्वनुधिग्नर्नाुः सुखेषु धवगतस्पृहुः।
वीतरागर्यक्रोिुः स्तथितिीर्ुमधनरुच्यते।।
Shri Krishna says, He whose mind is unaffected by misery or pleasure and
Is free from all bonds and attachments, fear and anger, is a man of steady
wisdom and decisive intellect.
THE LESSON – There should be fearlessness, purity, self control,
calmness, absence of greed, absence of envy, and pride in the
work you do.
12

13. 2. ‘ASURI SAMPAT’ or Domnic work culture -
न कर्मिार्नारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते |
न च संन्यसनादेव धसस्तधं सर्धिगच्छधत ||
Shri Krishna says, One cannot achieve freedom from karmic reactions
by merely abstaining from work, nor can one attain perfection of
knowledge by mere physical renunciation.
THE LESSON- There should not be egoism, delusion, improper
performance in the work you do. The work should be oriented
towards service.
13

14. COMPOSED AND COMPLETE PERSONALITY
योगथि: क
ु रु कर्ामधि सङ्ग
ं त्यक्त्वा िनञ्जय |
धसद्ध्यधसद्ध्यो: सर्ो र्ूत्वा सर्त्वं योग उच्यते ||
Shri Krishna says, Be steadfast in the performance of your duty,
O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure.
Such equanimity is called Yog.
THE LESSON- The managers begin to develop a false notion
that only good things are going to happen . If managers can
develop a sense of equanimity as indicated in the Gita,
the quality of leadership will dramatically improve and so
will the quality of management. 14

15. ANGER MANAGEMENT
क्रोिाद्भवधत सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्र्ृधतधवभ्रर्: |
स्मृधतभ्रंर्ाद् बुस्तधनार्ो बुस्तधनार्ात्प्रिश्यधत ||
Shri Krishna says, Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which results in
puzzlement of the memory. When the memory is puzzled, the intellect gets
destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.
THE LESSON- Anger impairs judgment, just as the morning mist creates a hazy
covering on the sunlight. In anger, people commit mistakes that they later regret,
because the intellect gets clouded by the haze of emotions. Anger creates an uneasy
atmosphere at your workplace and effects you efficiency.
15

16. SELF-TRANSCENDENCE
ज्ञानधवज्ञानतृप्तात्मा क
ू टथिो धवधितेस्तियुः ।
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी सर्लोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनुः ॥
Shri Krishna says, He who is satisfied with Knowledge of the Self,
and whose senses are controlled, know him to be a true Yogi.
He is in permanent state of balance, and sees everything, whether it
be pebbles, stones or gold, as same.
THE LESSON- Self transcendence involves renouncing
egoism, putting others before oneself, emphasizing team
work, dignity, co-operation, harmony and trust and indeed
potentially sacrificing lower needs for higher goal. 16

17. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Anecdote - During the war , Arjuna refuses to fight and presents his
arguments to Krishna, Arjuna expresses his concerns and fear to
Krishna. Krishna carefully listens and understand to every doubt
and question raised by Arjuna. Krishna listens to Arjuna even if
Arjun counters his explanation. Krishna teaches several important
lessons and was able to succeed in clarifying the doubts of Arjuna
through good listening and not just speaking.
The Lesson- The message you communicate should not
agitate the mind of listener, it should be the truth, it should
be beneficial to the listener and it should be pleasant to
hear. 17

18. TO CONCLUDE…
The contribution of Bhagavad Gita not only spiritual
knowledge but also the art of self-determination,
personality, behavior, time management, stress
management and many others aspects of management
which can be used as a guide to increase management
effectiveness. If managers can develop a sense of
confidence as indicated in the Gita, the quality of
leadership will be improved and the quality of
management will be improved.
18

19. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!
19