Lord Krishna was a great leader.

1. ICONIC LEADERSHIP
DR K M SONI, CHIEF ENGINEER,
CPWD, MUMBAI

2. Krishna, a BORN LEADER
• Whether great leaders are born or made?
• Whatever may be the answer but;
LORD KRISHNA WAS A BORN LEADER
(en.brajdiscovery.org)

3. Krishna had A CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY
• Putana came to kill Lord Krishna and put her
poisoned smeared nipple in baby Krishna’s
mouth.
• Krishna in place of taking milk in his body,
put poison in Putana’s body. Thus Putana
was killed.
LORD KRISHNA HAD CHARISMATIC
PERSONALITY
(krsnabook.com)

4. Lord Krishna protected friends
• Putana’s brother Aghasur took the form of a
big snake in which friends of Krishna went
inside his mouth mistaking it as a cave.
Though Krishna prevented them not to
venture new cave like structure but when his
friends went in, he also entered though he
knew the reality. Then he killed Aghasur and
protected his friends.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A PROTECTOR
(en.wikipedia.org)

5. Krishna saved his friends fromasurs by acting fromthe
front
• Krishna saved his friends from asurs like
Arishtasur, Kesi, Vyomasur, Sakatasur,
Trinavart, Vatasur and Bakasur.
• Lord showed the charisma to villagers and
friends by eliminating the demons at a small
age and acted from the front.
THUS LORD KRISHNA NOT ONLY HAD
CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY BUT ALWAYS LED
FROM FRONT
(radhanathswamiyatras.com)
(krsnabook.com)

6. Krishna adopted appropriate strategy
• Lord Brahma hid village boys and cattle to test
Krishna. Krishna adopted different strategy and
created as many village boys and cattle and
didn’t confront directly with Lord Brahma.
• Krishna provided the feelings of safety and
security in his friends.
• THUS LORD KRISHNA ACTED WITH APPROPRIATE
STRATEGY
(krsnabook.com)

7. Krishna gave credit to themwho actually deserved
• Krishna asked villagers to worship
Govardhan, source of their livelihood in place
of Indra. Thus he was instrumental in giving
credit to Govardhan who deserved as it
provided direct and indirect support to the
villagers.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS GAVE DUE OR MORE
CREDIT TO THE DESERVING ONES
(rajasthantourism.gov.in)

8. Krishna HADNO FEARAND showed strengthand charisma
when required
• When Indra God became angry with villagers and
started stormy and incessant rains to devastate the
village, without any fear Krishna protected them by
lifting Govardhan on his finger, or may be taking
villagers and their cattle in the caves of Govardhan
mountain.
LORD KRISHNA HAD NO FEAR AND SHOWED HIS
STRENGTH TO INDRA
(zeenews.india.com)

9. Krishna showed the courage
• Krishna went into Yamuna where Kaliya Nag
lived though nobody dared to go inside his
territory. He defeated Kaliya and forced him
to leave the place for protection of his
followers.
LORD KRISHNA HAD COURAGE TO FACE ANY
CONDITION
(harekrsna.com)

10. Krishna Loved to all
• Krishna loved to elders, friends, and young ones.
He also loved animals, birds and even non
livings. He loved everyone without
differentiating in gender, or caste.
LORD KRISHNA LOVED ALL LIVING ANIMALS AND
NATURE WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENTIATION
(quora.com) (vrindavan.de)

11. Krishna believed in teamwork
• Krishna always worked as a member of the
team with his friends during all occasions like
the work, play, trouble, dance, happiness.
• Krishna never posed himself as a leader
though he was an undisputed leader of the
villagers at the age of 8 years.
LORD KRISHNA BELIEVED IN TEAMWORK
(fineartamerica.com)

12. Krishna was a leader at all places
• Kansa invited Krishna to Mathura to eliminate him.
Krishna accepted the challenge.
• Krishna made public in his favour in one evening.
• Krishna snatched and distributed royal dresses among
his followers, gave therapy to Kubja, a hunch backed
woman and converted her into a beautiful one and
broke bow meant for ceremony to show his strength,
make public in his favour and create terror in his
opponent’s mind.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A LEADER AT ALL PLACES
INCLUDING IN A DEN OF THE ENEMY
(bhagavatam-katha.com)

13. Krishna was a leader attached to common people and believed in knowing
the groundreality
• Krishna made survey of the site where Kansa
was organising ceremony, primarily to
eliminate him. As a leader, he was aware of
every site particulars before the fight.
• A leader always gets ready in advance by
getting required information.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A LEADER WHO
WORKED ON GROUND
(templepurohit.com)
(krsnabook.com)

14. Krishna worked in democratic manner
• After killing Kansa, Krishna freed his parents
and Ugrasen. Krishna asked public about the
choice of the king of Mathura after Kansa and
giving weightage of the public vote, Krishna
made Ugrasen as the king of Mathura.
LORD KRISHNA WORKED IN DEMOCRATIC
MANNER
(youtube.com)

15. Krishna, an intelligent personality
• Krishna completed his formal education just
in sixty four days in Sandipani’s ashram.
LORD KRISHNA WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY
INTELLIGENT, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE
PERSONALITY
(patrika.com)

16. Krishna, showed friendship
• Sudama, a friend of Krishna denies having chickpeas
during stormy night when they were stuck in the
jungle. Krishna never told him that he knew of his
having and eating chickpeas and not providing him.
• Krishna treated Sudama as a best friend and ensured
that he keeps his self respect. He provided help to his
family without disclosing him.
LORD KRISHNA WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIEND.
(bhaktisangrah.com)

17. Krishna took blame for the safety of the public
• Jarasandh attacked Mathura seventeen times and to
ease the sufferings of citizens, he left Mathura and
took blame of calling “Ranchhod”. Also he
meticulously planned death of Kalyavan, an aid of
Jarasandh and without even direct fight, eliminated
him.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS WORKED FOR THE PUBLIC
WELFARE
(templepurohit.com)

18. Krishna unfolded the truth
• King Paundrik, got stitched two extra arms
and wore accessories. He then advertised
him being incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He,
then challenged Krishna with a belief that
Krishna will not dare to fight with him.
• Krishna fought with him and revealed the
truth by removing his stitched arms.
LORD KRISHNA LIKED TRUTH
(btg.krisnna.com)

19. Krishna respected love
• Krishna married Rukmani as she loved him
though his brother Rukmi was opposed to it.
• He spared Rukmi on the advice of Rukmani.
LORD KRISHNA RESPECTED LOVE AND WAS LOVE
FOR LOVING ONES
(en.wikipedia.org)

20. Krishna made relations with all who loved him
• Krishna married to Jambvati, daughter of Jamvant,
Satyabhama, daughter of Satrajit as they offered their
daughters to him.
• Krishna married to Kalindi, Mitravinda and Bhadra as
they loved him.
• Krishna won Nagnajiti and Lakshmana in swamyavar.
• Thus Krishna had family relations with many kingdoms.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT SOCIAL FIGURE
(ritsin.com)

21. Krishna provided patronage to the needy
• Bhaumasur (also named as Narkasur) had
abducted 16,100 girls. On freeing them, no
one was ready to accept them. Krishna
married them to give them patronage.
LORD KRISHNA WAS ALWAYS FOR THOSE
WHO WANTED HIM
(vcm.org.in)

22. Krishna showed his support for justice
• In the swayamvar of Draupadi, when no prince
could target the fish, Arjun dressed as Brahmin
succeeded. On this, princes present there tried
to make objections on Arjun being Brahmin. He
supported Arjun and told that he was with him
and will fight in his favour as he made effort
only after they failed. Thus, he convinced the
mob.
• LORD KRISHNA HAD A GREAT CONVINCING
POWER
(nynjbengali.com)

23. Krishna foresaw the problemandgave proper advice
• Yudhishther wanted to organise Rajsuya yajna
ceremony. Krishna foresaw the problem and asked
Yudhishther to fight first with Jarasandh. He took
Arjun and Bhim with him and went to Magadh where
Jarasandh ruled as he knew that only one of them
was a match to him.
• Krishna knew weakness of his opponent and shared
with Bhim who eliminated Jarasandh, thus made
Rajsuya yajna of Yudhishther successful.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS FORESAW THE PROBLEM
(en.wikipedia.org)

24. Krishna believed in forgiveness but to a limit of self respect
• Krishna forgave one hundred abuses of
Shishupal in Indraprashtha but thereafter
punished him.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A KIND HEARTED,
FORGIVER BUT HAVING SELF RESPECT
(http://ajitvadakayil.blogspot.in/)

25. Krishna foresaw the problemandcautionedtimely to
pandav
• Krishna foresaw the problem and advised
Pandav to be careful from Duryodhan after
Draupadi insulted Duryodhan by saying
“Blind son of Blind father”.
• Krishna vey well knew that insult before
others leads to quarrel, disputes and even
war.
LORD KRISHNA NEVER INSULTED ANYONE.
ALSO HE WAS A GOOD ADVISER

26. Krishna knew– a leader must know his weakness
• Krishna knew weakness of Yudhishther and
thus cautioned him. His advice could prevent
Mahabharat.
LORD KRISHNA NEVER SHOWED ANY
WEAKNESS
(christkrishna.wordpress.com)

27. Krishna helped to those who asked for
• When nobody helped Draupadi, Krishna
helped, particularly when she was helpless
before he own relatives.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS HELPED THOSE WHO
PRAYED TO HIM
(en.wikipedia.org)

28. Krishna, a great visionary
• Krishna advised Pandav (Yudhishther) to pray
to Sun God to get magical vessel to satisfy
their hunger. He very well knew that without
satisfying hunger, they would never remain
fit to fight in future. Thus he aborted
Duryodhan’s plan.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT VISIONARY
(templepurohit.com)

29. Krishna knew importance of food
• Krishna asked Draupadi to give him food
when she remembered him to provide food
to rishi Durvasa and his disciples. Krishna ate
grain left in akshya patra which satisfied his
hunger as well others.
LORD KRISHNA SHOWED THE WAY OF NO
WASTAGE OF FOOD
(funbuzztime.com)

30. Krishna believed in avoiding disputes
• Krishna tried to mediate between Pandav and
Kaurav and went to Hastinapur risking his life.
He tried to take even five villages on behalf of
Pandav. When Duryodhan tried to arrest him, he
showed a glimpse of his strength.
LORD KRISHNA KEPT CALM AND COOL IN
ADVERSE CONDITIONS ALSO AND AVOIDED
DISPUTES TILL LAST
(iyadav.com)

31. Krishna helped to those who came to himfor help
• Though Duryodhan tried to arrest him in
Hastinapur, he gave him his army when he came to
him for the help.
• Arjun asked for him and he agreed. Arjun knew
that a great leader is worth more than a large
powerful army even if unarmed.
• LORD KRISHNA WAS A GIVER AND HELPED WHO
PRAYED FOR
(bolokids.com)

32. Krishna, a great visionary, AND ALSOA GREAT plannerand
strategist
• Krishna suggests Pandav name of Dhristdumn
as commander as he knew that he will be
able to take on with Dronacharya (who
insulted Drupad, his father), his brother
Shikhandi with Bhism and his father Drupad
with Kaurav due to insult to his daughter.
LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT PLANNER AND
STRATEGIST

33. Krishna, a great motivator
• Krishna motivated Arjun by giving discourse
known as Bhagwadgita. Motivation was without
known motivation factors like money, fringe
benefits, appreciation and power.
LORD KRISHNA PROVIDED DISCOURSE FOR THE
BENEFIT OF HUMAN BEINGS. HE DESCRIBED
“KARM” i.e. PERFORMANCE OF “OWN DUTY” AS
SUPREME
(bhagwad-gita.us)

34. Krishna NEVER Left his followers
• Krishna had decided to remain unarmed
during Mahabharat but when Bhishm took
vow for forcing Krishna to take weapon, he
broke his promise and took wheel to protect
Arjun and keep vow intact of Bhishm who
was also his follower. A leader works for his
followers even at his cost.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS WORKED FOR HIS
FOLLOWERS
(harekrsna.de)

35. Krishna protected his followers
• Krishna protected Arjun at many occasions
including the day when he took oath to slain
Jayadrath before sunset and if not for self
immolation.
LORD KRISHNA WAS ALWAYS WITH HIS FRIENDS
AND FOLLOWERS AND PROTECTED THEM
(ritsin.com)

36. Krishna accepted even the curse from his followers
• When Gandhari gave curse to him after
Mahabharat, he accepted it though when he
narrated incidences of mediation between
Pandav and Kaurav to her, she repented. Even
after the curse, he told Pandav to treat Gandhari
as their mother.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS RESPECTED ELDERS AND
PARENTS
(allindiaroundup.com)

37. Krishna gave teachings of Love
• Krishna preferred love and devotion over
disputes and quarrels and gave teachings of
Love and affection to Uddhav which are in
the form of Uddhavgita.
LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS SPREAD LOVE AND
AFFECTION
(vidsshare.com)

38. Krishna believed in forgiving
• Krishna even forgave to the hunter who by
mistake shot arrow in his foot due to which he
left this world. He told that death is certain so
embrace death as an event of life.
LORD KRISHNA TOLD THAT ONE SHOULD
PERFORM HIS DUTY WITHOUT ANY DESIRE ON
THE RESULT AS RESULT IS NOT IN YOUR HANDS.
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ONE SHOULD REMAIN
EQUIPOISE, i.e. TO HAPPINESS AND SORROW.

39. Krishna was a leader of the leaders
• Yudhishther, Arjun, Bhim, Duryodhan, Bhishm,
Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Karn, Drupad,
Dhristdumn, Jarasandh, Kans, Balram, and
Shalve were great leaders of that period but
Krishna proved leader of those leaders.
LORD KRISHNA WAS THE LEADER OF THE
LEADERS AND THE LEADERS OF THAT PERIOD
UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED IT
HE HAD ALL THE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, ONE
CAN IMAGIN

40. REFERENCE: LORD KRISHNA AND HIS
LEADERSHIP by Dr Krishna Murari
Soni, Diamond books publications,
Delhi, 2015