Valmiki ramayanlions2015abridged

Leadership Skills from
Valmiki Ramayana
Lions Club of Bombay
Marol, 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 सुमहान्त्य् अथप 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”
इमम् अथप अंगदम् वीरम् यौवराज्ये अथभषेचय || ४-२६-१२
11 October 2015, Sunday

• वाक्यज्ञम् (Sentencious), स्नेह िुक्तम् (Friendly), अररन्दम (Enemy destroyer)
• Learned and to the point ४-३-२९
• Faultless expressions ४-३-३०
• एवम् थवधो यस्य दू तो 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 स्युैः कािय साधकािः |
तस्य थसद्ध्यद्ि सवेऽिाव दू त 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 |
हनूमत्प्रमुखैश्चैव यूिपयैः सह लक्ष्मि || ६-८५-२१
• जाम्बवेनाियपयतना सहसयन्येन 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 इच्छ् हथम 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 प्रथवष्टे 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 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
M Hariharan 12
Intimacy: Getting close
(Gaining trust, Listening well, Getting personal)
Four essential attributes of interpersonal conversation

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
M Hariharan 13
Interactivity : Promoting Dialogue
• सुहृदा थह अिव कृ च्चेषु 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"

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
M Hariharan 14
Inclusion : Expanding employee roles
(Brand ambassadors, Thought leaders, Story Tellers)

Boris Gorysberg &
Michael Slind
अभयम् सवव भूतेभ्यो ददायम एतद् व्रतम् मम |
आनय एनम् हरर श्रेष्ठ दत्तम् अस्य अििम् मिा ||६-१८-३४
11 October 2015, Sunday M Hariharan 15
Intentionality : Pursuing an agenda

Road ahead
• Indiscretion of a Leader
Strategy

Leadership Lessons

Analysis and Foresight of a Leader
• यवयििम् कृ त 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 इच्छ्हायम कस्य त्वम् का
अयस 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 सवयम्
यवमृश्यते (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 द् िुयतमान् 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-
१८
कृ तज्ञिः 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 शुिम्
इच्छ्हता |
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|
ध्रुवं ि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
• ततस्तु तायवन्द्रयजदस्त्रजालैर् |
बिूवतुस्तत्र तदा यवशस्तौ|
स चायप तौ तत्र यवषादयित्वा |
ननाद हषायद् िुयध 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 समाधेििः
पुरन्दररर्थोयचतिः |
िुिुत्सुरहमेकाग्रिः 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 रिह्सु 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
• ििः पश्चात्पूवयकािाययण कु िायदैश्वियमाद्थर्थतिः |
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."

Implementation
Kumbakarana to Ravana
• त्रिाणाम् पञ्चधा िोगम् कमयणाम् ििः िपद्यते |
सयचवैिः समिम् कृ त्वा 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.

Implementation
Kumbakarana to Ravana
• यवनाशिन्तो ितायरम् सयहतािः शत्रुयिबुयधैिः |
यवपरीतायन कृ त्यायन 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 संस्पृशायम
– Now, I want to feel this bow.
• रर्थम् आरुह्य गच्चामिः पन्थानम् अकु तिः िि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 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 अििम् मिा
– I have given an assurance of safety to him.

Road ahead
Strategy

Hanuman- the Redoubtable ally of a
leader - वाक्य कोथवदैः
• संभ्रमिः त्यजताम् एष सवविः वायल कृ ते 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 सवयम् आचर |
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 त्वेतायन चत्वारर वानरेन्द्र िर्था तव || ५-१९८
धृयतदृययिमययतदायक्ष्यं 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 अर्थेषु ि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 स्वल्पस्य अयप 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."

• ग्रहणे चायप रिोयिमयहन्मे गुणदशयनम् |
रािसेन्द्रेण सम्वादस्तस्माद् गृह्णन्तु 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."

• स यनयश्चतार्थयिः परवीरहन्ता |
समीक्ष्यकारी यवयनवृत्तचेििः |
परैिः िसह्यायिगतैयनयगृह्य |
ननाद तैस्तैिः 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."

• 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 यवशन्के त सहसा बुद्धमान् वचिः |
तत्र यमत्रम् िदुष्येत यमथ्य पृिम् 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 ब्रुवतो 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.“

• उद्योगम् तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य यमथ्या वृत्तम् च रावणम् |
वायलनिः च वधम् श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवम् च अयिषेयचतम् ||६-१७-६६
राज्यम् िार्थयिमानिः च बुद्ध पूवयम् इह आगतिः |
एतावत् तु पुरस् कृ त्य िुज्यते त्व् 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
• अयतलिणसंपन्नं माधुियगुणिूयषतम् ||६-११३-२६
बुद्ध्या ह्यिाििा िुक्तं 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 दाक्ष्यं सामथ्यं
यवनिो नििः |
पौरुषन् यवक्रमो बुद्धियद्स्मन्नेतायन
यनत्यदा || ६-१२८-८२
– Sharpness, firmness,
renown, dexterity,
competence, modesty,
prudence, virility, prowess
and intelligence are ever
present

Conclusion
• आिुष्यमारोग्यकरं िशस्यं |
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

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