Leadership Skills from Valmiki Ramayan

Leadership Skills from
Valmiki Ramayana
Leadership Academy Seminar
M Hariharan
30 March 2014, Sunday M Hariharan 1

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
• Shri Ram’s traits
• Leader’s Advisors
• Leadership Lessons
• Indiscretion of a Leader
• Hanuman - Implementation – Fulfillment of
Strategy

Ramcharan on Leadership
Leaders who do not produce other
leaders is not a good leader
आगता त्वाम ् इयम ् बुद्धिः स्वजा वैनयिकी च या |
भृशम ् उत्सहसे तात रक्षितुम ् पृथिवीम ् अपप || २-११२-१६
अमात्ययैः च सुहृद्भैः च बुपिमद्भैः च मन्त्रिभभैः |
सवव कायावणि सम्मर्य सुमहारत्य् अपप कारि || 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”
इमम ् अपप अंगदम ् वीरम ् यौवराज्ये अभभषेचय || ४-२६-१२

• वाक्यज्ञम्(Sentencious), स्नेह युक्तम्(Friendly), अरररदम (Enemy destroyer)
• Learned and to the point ४-३-२९
• Faultless expressions ४-३-३०
• एवम् पवधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पाथिववस्य तु |
भसद्ध्यन्त्रत हह 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 स्युैः कािय साधकािः |
तस्य भसद्ध्यन्त्रत सवेऽिाव दूत वाक्य प्रचोहदताैः || 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..." )
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.

• िद्वानरेन्द्रस्ि बलं तेन सवेि संवृतैः |
हनूमत्रमुखैश्चैव यूिपयैः सह लक्ष्मि || ६-८५-२१
• जाम्बवेनाियपयतना सहसयरयेन संवृतैः |
जहह तं राक्षससुतं मायाबलसमन्त्रवतम् || ६-८५-२२
• अयं त्वां सथचवयैः साधं महात्मा रजनीचरिः |
अभिज्ञस्तस्ि मािानां पृष्ठतोऽनुगभमष्यद्त || 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
High-performance leader is different from high-performance
individual. And the difference is a high-performance leader
gets things done.

Drucker on Leadership
Only definition of Leader is someone
who has followers

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.

Leaders are highly visible. They therefore
set examples
त्वम ् हह शूरैः च बलवान् हरया एतान् न संशयैः |
स्वयम् द्नहरतुम् इच्छ्हभम सवावन् एव द्नशाचरान् || 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.
तन्त्स्मन् प्रपवष्टे तु गुहाम् लक्ष्मिे सह सीतया |
हन्द्त यनिुयक्तम् इद्त उक्त्वा रामैः कवचम् आपवशत् || 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.

Leadership is not rank, privileges, titles, or
money. It is responsibility.
आत्मानं मानुषं मरये रामं दशरिात्मजम ् || ६-११७-११
सोऽहं यस्य यतश्चाहं भगवंस्तद्धरवीतु मे |

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
Smart leaders today, we have found, engage with employees
in a way that resembles an ordinary person-to-person
conversation more than it does a series of commands from
on high.
Leadership Is a Conversation - How to improve employee engagement and alignment in
today’s flatter, more networked organizations – HBR June 2012

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
Intimacy: Getting close
(Gaining trust, Listening well, Getting personal)
Four essential attributes of interpersonal conversation

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
Interactivity : Promoting Dialogue
• सुहृदा हह अिव कृ च्छचेषु युक्तम ् बुपिमता सता |
समिेन अपप संदेष्टुम ् शाश्वतीम ् भूद्तम ् इच्छचता ||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"

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
Inclusion : Expanding employee roles
(Brand ambassadors, Thought leaders, Story Tellers)

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
अभयम् सवव भूतेभ्यो ददाभम एतद् व्रतम् मम |
आनय एनम् हरर श्रेष्ठ दत्तम् अस्य अििम् मिा ||६-१८-३४
Intentionality : Pursuing an agenda

Road ahead
Strategy

Sri Ram’s Traits – The Person
• द्नत्यं प्रग्रहवान्(Had always self control)
• संवृताकार: (Not let his feelings appear outwardly)
• गुप्तमरिैः (Kept his thoughts to himself)
• न्त्जतक्रोध: (He conquered anger.)
• न दृप्तो (Had no arrogance)
• न मत्सरी (Had no envy)
• दृढभन्त्क्तैः न्त्स्िरप्रज्ञ: (Firm devotion and steadfast mind)
• द्नस्तन्त्रिरप्रमत्त: (Free from idleness and was ever alert)
• न चालसैः (He never remained inactive)

Sri Ram’s Traits – The Team Leader
• नासद्धग्राही (Not stubborn)
• न दुववचाैः (Not speaking evil words)
• पुरुषसारज्ञ: (Could grasp the essence of men)
• अनसूय:(He had no jealousy)
• स्वदोषपरदोषपवत: (Recognized his own errors and those of
others)
• पुरुषारतरकोपवदैः (Understood difference among men)
• प्रग्रहानुग्रहयोयविारयायं पवचक्षिैः (He could judiciously
discriminate whom to protect and whom to punish.)
• सत्संग्रहप्रग्रहि: (He identified good men and protected them.)
• स्िानपवन्त्रनग्रहस्य (He knew the people worthy of reprimand)

Sri Ram’s Traits – Organisational Head
• आयकमवण्युपायज्ञैः संदृष्टव्ययकमवपवत्(He knew the ways and means
of getting income as well as the system of spending, as perceived by
economic sciences.)
• अिवधमौ च संगृह्य सुखतरि: (He was interested in enjoying
comforts only after understanding the economic realities.)
• अिवपवभागपवत: (He knew how to distribute the wealth.)
• नाश्रेयभस रत: (Not interested in actions, which were not beneficial)
• उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता (His eloquent speech contained a series
of strategies for action)
• अमोघक्रोधहषव :(His anger and pleasure were not wasteful)
• त्यागसंयमकालपवत्(He knew when to give and when not to give)
• न कालवशानुगैः (He had not surrendered to time)

Road ahead
Strategy

Leader’s Advisors

Leader’s Advisors
- Dhasharatha’s court
• कु शला द्नयतेन्त्रियाैः (Skilful in their duties with
controlled senses)
• श्रीमरतैः (Affluent)
• शास्िज्ञ: (Knowers of all sciences)
• धृढ पवक्रमाैः (Firmly courageous)
• यिा वचन काररिैः (True to their word)
• क्षमा (Patient)
• प्राप्ताैः (Valiant ones)
• न्त्स्मत पूवव अभभभापषिैः (Smile when they
converse)

Leader’s Advisors
• क्रोधात् काम अिव हेतोर् वा न रूयुर्
अनृतम् वचैः (Never speak untruthful
words in anger or in greed or for
monetary reasons )
• कु शला व््वहारेषु (Efficient in
Administration)
• प्राप्त कालम ् यिा दण्डम ् धारयेयुैः सुतेषु
अपप (Impose punishment even on their
own sons, if situation demands it)

Leader’s Advisors
• वीराैः (Valiant)
• द्नयतोत्साहा (Enthusiastic on purpose)
• राज शास्िम ् अनुन्त्ष्ठताैः (Administrator
of political science )
• शुचीनाम ्(Clean persons)
• द्नत्यम ् रक्षक्षतारैः (Protectors at all times)
• मंि हहतेैः द्नपवष्टयैः (Conducive to the
strategy)

Vibhishana’s view of an advisor to
Leader
• स मरिी – An advisor is one who
• परस्य वीयवम ् स्वबलम ् च बुद्ध्वा
– Knows Own and enemy’s strength
• अप्नुमृश्य – One who grasps
• स्वपक्षे स्िानम ् क्षयम ् वृपिम ् - our army’s
Status quo, Fall and rise
• वद्धत् क्षमम ् स्वाभमहहतम ् (६-१४-२२) – Advise
which is appropriate to the interest of the
king.

Role of an advisor
Lakshman’s words to Ram
• न त्वम् व्यथितुम् अहवभस (it is inapt of you to
anguish)
• शोथचतुम् न अहवसे (It will be inapt of you sadden
like this)
• त्वत् पवधा नहह शोचन्त्रत (The like of you will
not sadden)
• सततम् सवव दभशवनैः (Always equable in one’s
outlook)
• अद्नपववण्ि दशवनाैः (Non-dispirited)
• सुमहत्सु अपप कृ च्छरेषु (Even if they are
undergoing desperate straits)

Role of an advisor
• अदृष्ट गुि दोषािाम् (Indiscernible are the
rights and wrongs)
• अधृवािाम् च इष्टम्फलम् (Indefinite are the
fruits)
• तेषाम् कमविाम् (of the actions)
• क्रक्रयाम् अंतरेि (Without performing actions)
(फलम्) च न वतवते || ४-६६-१७ (fruits are also
non-existence)
• (Don’t sit idle)

Role of an advisor
• महाप्राज्ञ (Oh, Great discerner)
• ते बुपिैः (Your thinking process is)
• देवयैः अपप दुअवरवया (non-explicatory even to
Gods)|
• ते ज्ञानम्(Your thinking process is)
• शोके न अभभप्रसुप्तम् (slumberous due to your
sadness)
• सम्बोधयाभम अहम् || ४-६६-१९ (It is what I’m
addressing)

Role of an advisor
• त््ज्य शोकम ् च मोहम ् च रामो धययवम ्
उपागमत् || ४-१-१२४

Road ahead
Strategy

Leadership Lessons

Analysis and Foresight of a Leader
• क्रकम् भरतेन कदा पूववम् –
Has Bharata earlier ever,
• पवपप्रयम ् कृ त वा ईदृशम्
भयम्(done any harm or
frightful thing)
• ते न ते अद्धय भरतम ् यो
अि शरकसे || २-९७-१४
(What so the reason for
you to be so apprehensive
of Bharata now?)

Analysis and Foresight of a Leader
• त्वाम ् तु वेहदतुम ् इच्छ्हाभम कस्य
त्वम ् का अभस कस्य वा |
त्वम ् हह तावरमनोज्ञा. आगंगी
राक्षसी प्रद्तभाभस 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 युक्तयो लोके याभभैः सववम्
पवमृश्यते (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.

Colloboration
• वानरेरिो महावीयवैः (Sugreeva is a masterful
one among vanaras, highly mettlesome)
• तेजोवान ् अभमत प्रभैः (self-resplendent,
and illimitable is his self-radiance..)
• सत्ि संधो (he is also truth-bound )
• द्वनीतिः च (and culture-bound)
• धृद्तमान ् मद्तमान ् महान ् (... a
mastermind, master-hand and a
taskmaster... ) ३-७२-१३

Colloboration
• दक्षैः (capable adventurer)
• प्रगल्भो (a courageous exploiter )
• द्धयुद्तमान ्(his personality will be coruscating
ever)
• महा बल पराक्रमैः (incomparably fearless) |
• भ्राता द्ववाभसतो (banished by his self-conceited
brother )
• वीर राज्य हेतो ( owing to reasons of kingdom)||
३-७२-१४

Colloboration
• सुग्रीवो वानर अथधपैः || (Lord of
Monkeys, Sugriva)
• न च ते सो अवमरतव्यैः (Cannot be
looked down upon) ३-७२-१८
• कृ तज्ञैः (He is a faithful one)
• काम रूपी च ((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
• कतवव्यम् (Preventive measures
are to be effectuated)
• शुभम् इच्छ्हता |(by any well
wishing person)
• अनागत पवधानम् (for any
imminent situation)
• आपदम् शंकमानेन (for any
dangerous situation)
• पुरुषेि पवपन्त्श्चता || ३-२४-११
(by a person of talent)

Reaction to a crisis
• आवां तु दृष््वा पद्ततौ पवसंज्ञौ |
द्नवृत्तयुिौ हतरोषहषौ|
ध्रुवं प्रवेक्ष्यत्यमराररवासं |
असौ समादाय रिाग्रलक्ष्मीम ् || 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
• ततस्तु तापवरिन्त्जदस्िजालयर् |
बभूवतुस्ति तदा पवशस्तौ|
स चापप तौ ति पवषादद्यत्वा |
ननाद हषावद्धयुथध राक्षसेरिैः || 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 त्वन ् समाधेयैः
पुररदररिोथचतैः |
युयुत्सुरहमेकाग्रैः स्मारिे त्वां
न भिििे || 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 रक्षह्सु गुिाय कल्पते |
न दनम् अिव उपथचतेषु वतवते |
न भेद सा्या बल दपपवता जनाैः |
पराक्रमिः तु एष मम इह रोचते || ५-४१-३
• "In the case of demons, the strategy of
negotiation is not practicable.
• For those persons having abundant
wealth, the strategy of bribery is not
suitable.
• For persons who are proud of their
strength, the strategy of sowing
dissension is not amenable.
• Prowess alone is agreeable for me here."

Implementation
Kumbakarna to Ravana
• यैः पश्चात्पूववकायावणि (He who
performance duties to be done
earlier at a later stage)
• पूवं चोत्तरकायावणि (and duties to be
done later, at an early stage)
• न स वेद नयानयौ (does not know
what is a right course and what is a
wrong course.“)|| ६-६३-५

Implementation
Kumbakarana to Ravana
• ियािाम् पञ्चधा योगम्
कमविाम् यैः प्रपद्धयते |
सथचवयैः समयम् कृ त्वा
स सम्यगभभवतवते || ६-
६३-७
– "He, who acts
according to an
agreement done with
his counsellors,
considering three types
of duties*, by
harnessing 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
1The method of initiating an actions
(How).
2) Personality and material to be
worked upon. (Who)
3) Time and place of action.(When and
Where)
4) Provision against mischance
(Negative Branch Resoulution) and
5) Chances of success. (Probability)

Implementation
Kumbakarana to Ravana
• पवनाशयरतो भतावरम ् सहहताैः शिुभभबुवधयैः |
पवपरीताद्न कृ त्याद्न कारयरतीह मन्त्रििैः || ६-
६३-१७
– "Some counsellors, colluding with some learned
adversaries, spoil their king and make them do
wrong deeds."

Individuality
• इह इदम् धनुववरम् पाणिना संस्पृशाभम
– Now, I want to feel this bow.
• रिम् आरुह्य गच्छचामैः परिानम् अकु तैः भयम्-
– Let us quickly mount the chariot and take a route which
has no fear from any quarter
• तस्मात् गृहीत्वा वयदेहीम् शर पाणिैः धनुर् धरैः |
गुहाम् आश्रय शयलस्य दुगावम् पादप संकु लाम् ||
– "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 अभयम् मया
– I have given an assurance of safety to him.

Road ahead
Strategy

Leader’s Indiscretion
- Surpanaka Episode – Joking with her
• अनुजैः तु एष मे भ्राता शीलवान् पप्रय
दशवनैः |
श्रीमान् अकृ त दारैः च लक्ष्मिो नाम
वीयववान् || ३-१८-३
• "He is my younger brother named
Lakshmana, he is with a good
conduct, good looking, a promising
and valiant one, and he is without a
wife

- Surpanaka Episode – Joking with her
• अपूवी भायवया च अिी तरुिैः पप्रय
दशवनैः |
अनुरूपैः च ते भताव रूपस्य अस्य
भपवष्यद्त || ३-१८-४
• "He is without a wife and in need of
a wife he is youthful, good-looking
and he can become a fitly husband
of yours, fit enough to your kind of
features..

- Surpanaka Episode – Ram’s Order
• क्रू रयैः अनाययैः सौभमिे पररहासैः किंचन |
न कायवैः पश्य वयदेहीम् किंथचत् सौम्य जीवतीम् || ३-
१८-१९
– "Punning in any way with the base and brutish is
inapposite, oh, gentle Saumitri, mark note of
Vaidehi, somehow surviving

- Surpanaka Episode – Ram’s Order
• इमाम् पवरूपाम् असतीम् अद्तमत्ताम् महोदरीम् |
राक्षसीम् पुरुषव्याघ्र पवरूपद्यतुम् अहवभस || ३-१८-२०
– "She is freakish, knavish and overtly ruttish, oh,
tigerly man, it will be apt of you to deface this
paunchy demoness " Thus Rama said to
Lakshmana.

Ravana as a Leader–
Hanuman’s first observation
• अहो रूपम् अहो धययवम् अहो सत्त्वम् अहो द्धयुद्तैः |
अहो राक्षस राजस्य सवव लक्षि युक्तता || ५-४९-१७
– "What figure, what courage, what strength, what splendor
and what amalgam of auspicious marks, alas, this king of
demons has!"

• यहद अधमो न बलवान् स्यात्
अयम् राक्षस ईश्वरैः |
स्यात् अयम् सुर लोकस्य
सशक्रस्य अपप रक्षक्षता || ५-४९-
१८
– "Had this lord of demons perhaps
not strong in unrighteousness, he
would have been a protector of
even the world of celestials
together with Indra the lord of
celestials.“

• अस्य क्रू रयनृवशम् सयश्च कमवभभलोककु न्त्त्सतयैः |
सवे बबभ्यद्त खल्वस्माल्लोकाैः सामरदानवाैः || ५-४९-१९
अयम् ह्युत्सह्ते क्रु िैः कतुवमेकािववम् जगत् |
– "By his cruel and violent acts despised by the world, all
people including gods and demons indeed remain
frightened of him. If enraged he is indeed capable to turn
the entire world into a single ocean."

Vibhishana’s Advice to Ravana
• त्यजस्व कोपम ् सुख धमव नाशनम ् |
भजस्व धमवम ् रद्त कीद्तव वधवनम ् |
प्रसीद जीवेम सपुि बारधवाैः |
प्रदीयताम ् दाशरिाय मयथिली || ६-९-
२२
– "Abandon soon your anger, which
destroys happiness and piety. Resort
to righteousness, which augments joy
and fame. Become placid so that we
may live with our sons and relatives.
Let Seetha be given away to Rama."

Vibhishana’s rebuke of Prahasta
• अयम् च राजा रयसनाभभभूतो |
भमियरभमिप्रद्तमयभववद्भैः |
अरवास्यते राक्षसनाशनािे |
तीक्षिैः प्रकृ त्या ह्यसमीक्ष्यकारी || ६-१४-१७
– "This king who is overcome by evil addictions, * is rude in
nature and acts inconsiderately. Such a king is being
surrounded as a caucus by you who are his companions
taking the form of his enemies for the ultimate destruction
of demons.“
• *The following are the seven evil habits to which kings
are generally found addicted: --Harshness of speech
and severity of punishment, extravagance, drinking,
love of women, hunting and gambling.

Vibhishana’s last words to Ravana
• सुनीतम ् हहत कामेन वाक्यम ् उक्तम ् दश
आनन || ६-१६-२०
न गृह्िन्त्रत अकृ त आत्मानैः कालस्य
वशमागताैः
– "Those who have an ill composed mind and who
get conceded to the occasion do not assimilate
the words of prudence, spoken by a well wisher."

Vibhishana’s last words to Ravana
• सुलभाैः पुरुषा राजन ् सततम ् पप्रय वाहदनैः ||
६-१६-२१
अपप्रयस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुलवभैः |
– "O, king! Men who forever speak pleasing words
are easy to be obtained. But one who speaks of
useful but unpleasing words as also the one who
listens to them, are rare to be obtained"

Kumbakarna’s rebuke of Ravana
• दृष्टो दोषो हह योऽस्माभभैः पुरा
मरिपवद्निवये |
हहतेष्वनभभयुक्तेन
सोऽयमासाहदतस्त्वया || ६-६३-२
– "The same bad consequence,
which was imagined by us earlier
while taking the final decision
after our consultation, is faced by
you now, due to your utter
disregard of the words spoken by
your well-wishers."

Kumbakarna’s rebuke of Ravana
• प्रिमम ् वय महाराज
कृ त्यमेतदथचन्त्रततम् |
के वलम ् वीयवदपेिनानुबरधो
पवथचन्त्रततैः || ६-६३-४
– "O emperor! This course of action
was not excepted by you at first.
You did not conceive this
consequence, only because of
your sheer arrogance of power."

Ravana as a Leader
- Hanuman’s advice
• न हह धमव पवरुिेषु बह्व् अपायेषु कमवसु |
मूल घाद्तषु सज्जरते बुपिमरतो भवत् पवधाैः ||
५-५१-१८
– "Intellectuals like you indeed are not engrossed in
acts, which are antagonistic to righteousness,
which are attended with many dangers and which
even ruin the doer at the roots."

Ravana as a Leader
- Hanuman’s advice
• न तु धमव उपसम्हारम् अधमव फल सन्त्म्हतम् || ५-५१-
२८
तत ् एव फलम् अरवेद्त धमवैः च अधमव नाशनैः |
– "The fruit of righteousness does not exist together with
the result of unrighteousness (eventhough he practices
virtue). That consequence of unrighteousness alone
follows him. Righteousness in abundance destroys
unrighteousness."

Failing to heed to advice
• यत् क्रकल एतत् अयुक्तािवम ्
मारीच मद्य कथ्यते |
वाक्यम ् द्नष्फलम ् अत्यिवम ्
बीजम ् उप्तम ् इव ऊषरे ||
३-४०-३
– "All these meaningless
words that are being said to
me are decidedly worthless,
in effect, like the seeds
seeded in wastelands

Ravana as a Leader
- An Autocratic Leader
• वाक्यम् अप्रद्तकू लम् तु मृदु
पूववम् शुभम् हहतम् |
उपचारेि युक्तम् च
वक्तव्यो वसुधा अथधपैः ||
३-४०-१०
• "The king being lord of the
land is to be addressed
preceded with gentility,
with auspicious and
beneficial words that do not
contradict the interests of
that lord, more so, they
shall be inclusive of
etiquette.

Road ahead
Strategy

Hanuman- the Redoubtable ally of a
leader - वाक्य कोपवदैः
• संभ्रमैः त्यजताम ्एष सवयैः वाभल कृ ते महान ्|
मलयोऽयम ्थगररवरो भयम ्न इह अन्त्स्त वाभलनैः
|| 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 कोपवदैः
• बुपि पवज्ञान संपरन इङ्थगतयैः सववम ्आचर |
न हह अबुपिम ्गतो राजा सवव भूताद्न शान्त्स्त हह || 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
• यस्य त्वेताद्न चत्वारर वानरेरि यिा तव || ५-१९८
धृद्तदृवन्त्ष्टमवद्तदावक्ष्यं स कमवसु न सीदद्त
• "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
• अद्नवेदैः थश्रयो मूलम् अद्नवेदैः परम् सुखम् |
अद्नवेदो हह सततम् सवव अिेषु प्रवतवकैः || 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."
• करोद्त सफलम् जरतोैः कमव यच् च करोद्त सैः |
तस्माद्ध अद्नवेद क््तम् यत्नम् चेष्टे 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
• काये कमवणि द्नहदवष्टैः यो बहूद्न अपप साधयेत् |
पूवव कायव पवरोधेन स कायवम् कतुवम् अहवद्त || 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 हह एकैः साधको हेतुैः स्वल्पस्य अपप इह कमविैः |
यो हह अिवम् बहुधा वेद स समिो अिव 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."

• ग्रहिे चापप रक्षोभभमवहरमे गुिदशवनम ् |
राक्षसेरिेि सम्वादस्तस्माद्धगृह्िरतु
माम ् 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."

• स द्नन्त्श्चतािवैः परवीरहरता |
समीक्ष्यकारी पवद्नवृत्तचेष्टैः |
परयैः प्रसह्याभभगतयद्नवगृह्य |
ननाद तयस्तयैः पररभत्स्यवमानैः || 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 अपप सम्घषावन् न आथधक्यान् न च
कामतैः |
वक्ष्याभम वचनम् राजन् यिा अिवम् राम गौरवात ्
||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."

• अज्ञात रूपयैः पुरुषयैः स राजन् पृच्छच्छयताम् इद्त |
यद्ध उक्तम् अि मे प्रेक्षा काथचद्ध अन्त्स्त समीक्षक्षता ||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:
• पृच्छच्छयमानो पवशरके त सहसा बुपिमान् वचैः |
ति भमिम् प्रदुष्येत भमथ्य पृष्टम् सुख आगतम् ||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."

• न त्वस्य रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्ट भावता |
प्रसरनम ् वदनम ् च अपप तस्मान् मे न अन्त्स्त
संशयैः ||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.“

• उद्धयोगम् तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य भमथ्या वृत्तम् च राविम् |
वाभलनैः च वधम् श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवम् च अभभषेथचतम् ||६-१७-
६६
राज्यम् प्रािवयमानैः च बुपि पूववम् इह आगतैः |
एतावत् तु पुरस् कृ त्य युज्यते त्व् अस्य सम्ग्रहैः ||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
• अद्तलक्षिसंपरनं माधुयवगुिभूपषतम् ||६-११३-२६
बुद्ध्या ह्यष्टाङ्गया युक्तं त्वमेवाहवभस भापषतुम्
– "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 धृद्तयवशो दाक्ष्यं
सामथ्यं पवनयो नयैः |
पौरुषन् पवक्रमो
बुपियवन्त्स्मरनेताद्न द्नत्यदा
|| ६-१२८-८२
– Sharpness, firmness,
renown, dexterity,
competence, modesty,
prudence, virility, prowess
and intelligence are ever
present

Conclusion
• आयुष्यमारोग्यकरं यशस्यं |
सौभ्रातृकं बुपिकरं शुभं च |
श्रोतव्यमेतन्त्रनयमेन सद्भ |
राख्यानमोजस्करमृपिकामयैः
|| ६-१२८-१२५
– This narrative is to be
listened invariably by good
people, seeking for wisdom,
longevity, health, fame,
fraternity, intelligence,
welfare and brilliance.

Bibliography
• Valmiki Ramayan Text from
www.valmikiramayan.net
• Ramcharan’s Interview (by Steve Singer, HBR
Ideacast)
• HBR June 2012 – Leadership is a Conversation
by Gorysberg and Slind
• Peter Drucker on Leadership
• Pictures from various sources

Leadership Skills from Valmiki Ramayan

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