Volume 2, Number 1, January-March 2013

ISSN (P):2279-0918, (O):2279-0926

THE GLIMPSES OF MANAGEMENT QUALITIES IN VEDIC LITERATURE

K.V. Murali Krishna1
ABSTRACT
The Vedic management is neither religious nor spiritual. We find the glimpses of Management in Vedas and Vedic related
literature including Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Puranas and Itihasas, in form of principles and messages. These principles
and messages are based on individual, social, national and universal principles and are always complimenting and never
contradicting. They are coordinating and never conflicting. They are meant for revolutionary and violent internal changes and
evolutionary and silent external changes.
KEYWORDS
Vedic, Literature, Management, Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Puranas and Itihasas etc.
INTRODUCTION
The Vedas consider human being as one group among the family members of the living and non living beings on the earth. The
Vedic principles are based on satya- dharma jnana -ahimsa and so on. They always focus on the iccha Shakti, jnaana Shakti and
kriya Shakti. The Vedic messages focus on Dharma (dharmic way of living); Artha (acquiring prosperity through dharmic way);
Kaama (fulfilling the expectations through dharmic ways) and Mosksha (getting detached).
The Vedas and Vedic knowledge always consider human being as the manifestation and manipulation of the divinity. So the
Vedic scholars say Prajnaanam brahma inherent intrinsic awareness and consciousness are the divinity in all living beings. That
awareness is in me/us hence Vedas say aham brahmaasmi. It is present in you too hence thathwam asi. The divinity is present
in an atom anoraneeyaan and in the universe mahato maheeyaan. Human beings are considered as the children of
immortality, srunvanthu viswe amruthasya putraa.
The Vedas declare that there are three pathways for anyone to opt, first one is (the pathway of) brahmajnaana prayaanam,
second dharma jnaana prayaanam and the third karmajnaana prayaanam. Of which a manager has to opt for second and the
third, i.e. doing the karma without a hidden agenda but with dharmic values. Vedas observe divinity in all natural resources like,
soil, air, water, oushadhee, animals, plants, forest, earth, Sun, and so on. Hence over utilization and exploitation of anything are
objected with strong words. Vedas consider their existence is for the mutual benefit and welfare..
Practical Principles of Management: In Vedas and its off springs such as Upanishads, Smritis, samhitaas, Darshanaas,
Puraanaas and so on, we find several invocations pertaining to the qualities of management.

Thamaso maa jyothir gamaya - lead us from darkness to light,

Saha now bhunaktu - let us share the result (food) of the work together,

Aano bhadraa krathavo yanthu viswataha - let noble thoughts come towards us from all over the world,

Bhadram pasyema akshabhir yajathraa - let us (managers) see the glorious positives through our eyes (for
implementing in their work),

Sarvey bhavanthu sukhina - let all become happy,

Sarve santhu niraamaya - let all become healthy,

Sarve bhadraani pasyanthu - let all be seen in glory,

Saptha dweepa nivaaseenaam praneenaam akshayam upathishtau - let all living being in all the seven continents
become happy and prosperous,

The Six qualifications needed for manager are Uddhyamam, saahasam, dhairyam, bhuddhi, sakti, paraakramam,
shadethey, yathra varthanthey, daivam thathra prakaasayeth - where the six qualifications of entrepreneurship, facing
any challenges, courage, wisdom, power, capacity to thrash out the obstacles exist, the blessings of the divine power
will automatically be there,

The ten qualifications for a manager - Ahimsa sathyam astheyam brahmachryam aparigraham soucham
santhosham sthapa swaadhyaaya eeswara pranidhaanam - Non violence, understanding the truth/fact/essence, non

Associate Professor, Silver Jublee Government College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India, murali.kalluru@gmail.com

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stealing, knowing the ultimate purpose of life, self reliance, cleanliness, pleasant happy vision, mission oriented
work, acquiring the knowledge on the subject of work, faith in divinity.
KAUTILYAS ARTHASASTRA AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The Arthashastra (4th Century B.C) is treatise on political economy which was written by Kautilya in the ancient India. Kautilya
was also known as Canakya and Visnugupta and he was the prime minister and adviser for Emperor Chandragupta Maurya,
who was the contemporary of Alexander the Great. The Arthashastra contains 150 chapters, which are classified by topic in 15
books, which covers three parts namely; national security issues, administration of justice and economics development policies.
Kautilya wrote this Arthashastra for his king Chandragupta Maurya and stated in its introduction that it has been written as a
guide for those who govern. The foundations of management in organization are revealed from the Arthashastra, which can
provide guidance to present managers and leaders of organizations. In his Arthashastra, Kautilya takes an inside-out approach to
management, which is self management first before management of every other thing. He advised the future organizational
managers and leaders to firstly conquer the enemies within such as desires, anger, greed, arrogance, infatuation, envy, pride or ego
and foolhardiness, as it is often said that one who conquers the self, conquers all.
The roots of Arthashatra can be traced from the Rig Veda. The Arthashastra deals primarily with economics and politics.
Kautilya with regards to self control, which includes the importance of control over the senses by giving up kama, krodha, lobha,
mana, mada and harsha i.e., lust, anger, pride, arrogance and foolhardiness. The first teaching of Kautilya is, to conquer the
internal enemies before you conquer the external enemies. Kautilyas Arthashastra is one of the ancient literatures which can
serve this purpose. Kautilyas Arthashastra has a lot of lessons to offer to organizational management, yet there are many
managers from outside India and even Indians who are not aware of the lessons of Kautilyas \ Arthashastra in organizational
management. The Kautilyas Arthashastra deals with different aspects of management which includes strategic management,
financial management, accounting, human resource management, corporate governance, social responsibility, etc.
The first five Kautilyas sutras (aphorisms) provide relevance on the foundations of management in organizations as follows:
a.

Sukhasya mulam dharmah the basis of happiness is righteousness or ethics

b.

Dharmasya mulam arthah the basis of righteousness or ethics is resources

c.

Arthasya mulam rajyam the basis of resources is kingdom (organization or enterprise)

d.

Rajyamulam indriyajayah organization or enterprise is rooted in conquering the senses

e.

Indriyajayasya mulam vinayah conquering organs is rooted in training and discipline

The above five sutras (aphorisms) although written in a different context, a careful analysis and interpretation reveals basic
lessons in foundations of management. Kautilya stated that happiness is obtained not by wealth and profit only but by doing
things rightly and doing right things, sukhasya mulam dharma. Dharma without wealth according to Kautilya is toothless
dharmasya mulam artha, and wealth without dharma is useless because a poor person cannot support the entire society.
"Arthashastra is followed by the best of kings."
Mahabharata
Bhagavad-Gita & Management:
The Bhagavad-Gita is an encyclopedia of human life from cradle to cremation. It is a magic wand, that can transform an
individual from a state of distress into an individual all set for activity. There are several illustrations in Bhagavad-Gita relating to
the management tactics not only to overcome the crisis but also to maintain mental equilibrium during the crisis. The Saankhya
yoga of Bhagavad-Gita says,
Klaibhyam maasmagamaha paartha!, naitatva yupapadyate
Kshudram hridaya daurbhalyam, tyaktottishta parantapa! 1
Do not get depressed. This does not suit to a warrior like you. Discard all mental weaknesses and prepare yourself for the battle.
The person who is at the helm of management should never lose his/her heart over failures. An ideal manager should always be
with a positive attitude.
Lord Sri Krishna in the Saankhya Yoga of Bhagavad-Gita advises entrepreneurs to perform the duties that are assigned,
without expecting their fruits.
karmanye vaadikaaraste
maaphaleshu kadaachana

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ISSN (P):2279-0918, (O):2279-0926

maa karmaphala heturbhur
maate sangotsva karmani.

Do your duty. Do not expect the fruits of your duty. Let the fruits of duty come to you on their own. Do not show aversion
towards duty. All managers should invariably adopt the policy of perceiving divinity in duty.
In the Jnana Karma Sanyaasa Yoga, Lord Sri Krishna explains what entrepreneurs should do so as to prosper in their
endeavor. .
Shraddhaavaan labhatejnanam
Tatpara samyateendriyaha
Jnanam labdwaam paraam
shaantim achirena adhigachhati
One who has concentration, inclination to learn and who has conquered senses, alone will be imparted with Knowledge, which
ultimately brings him bliss and peace. These should be the qualities of an ideal manager.
In the Aatma samyama yoga, Lord Krishna stresses the concept of self effort and self development, for the entrepreneurs to
attain higher goals.
Uddharet aatma atmaanam,
Aatmaana mavasadayet
Aatmaiva aatmano bhandhuhu,
Aatmaiva ripuraatmanaha
One should strive to develop by ones own effort; one should not let ones self down in an abyss because he himself is both friend
and foe depending upon the prevailing circumstances. An ideal manager should minimize external dependency and enhance self
sustenance capabilities of his firm.
Thus the Vedic Literature advocates the divine principle of unity of the cosmic consciousness, social consciousness and individual
consciousness. Let there be adhyaathma saanthi (peace for self) aadhiboudhika saanthi (peace around us) adhidevatha saanthi
(peace in the universe). Let all Entrepreneurships prosper under the administration of efficient managers. The ultimate aim of the
quality management should be lokaa samasthaa sukhino bhavanthu: let every individual of this Universe be happy and prosper.
AA NO BHADRAAHA KRATAVO YANTU VISWATAHA
RIG VEDA
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.
REFERENCES
1.

Balakrishnan, Muniapan. Kautilyas Arthashastra and Perspectives-On Organizational Management.

2.

Gopalakrishnan, N. The Vedic Managementr. Retrieved from www.iishglobal.org,

3.

Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage. Retrieved from www.iishglobal.org

4.

Bhagavad-Gita. Gorakhpur: Gita Press

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