VALUES AND ETHICAL

LESSONS FROM
MAHABHARATA
Presented by:
- Sonam
- Ruchita

Flow of Presentation

Introduction to:

Values

Ethics

Ethical Behaviour

Indian Ethos

The Mahabharata

Strategies from Mahabharata

Ethics and Mahabharata

Ethical Approaches and Principles -- Mahabharata Incidences

Conclusion

Values

Values( set of preferences) are said to be the cause and Ethics

effect. If one operates in a given instance, from a Value emotion
within, the outward action will tend to be Ethical.

Ethics

The word ethics is defined as moral principle that govern or

influence a persons behavior.

Ethics is thus a benchmark of human behavior.

The conduct of human beings is influenced either by the

emotions of life or the actions people perform in different
situations.

The coordination of action and emotions generates ethics.

Ethical Behaviour

Ethical behavior is characterized by honesty, fairness and equity in

interpersonal, professional and academic relationships and in all
other activities.

Ethical behavior respects the dignity, diversity and rights of

individuals and groups of people.

This definition is not a denial of the existence of other ethical

duties with respect to practice, professional service delivery, and
research.

Indian Ethos
Indian

ethos is drawn from the Vedas, the Ramayana,

Mahabharata, the Bhagwadgita, and Upanishad's.

Right

from the Vedic age it has been discovered two basic

universal truths of life.

1.The essential infinitude and divinity of all souls.
2.The essential oneness and solidarity of universe and all life.

THE MAHABHARATA

Kauravas Resources
Logistics = 11 Akshouhini
Key Human Resources(Players) :

Bhishma

Drona

Karna

Shalya

Kripacharya

Ashwatthama

Duryodhan
[1 Akshouhini = 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610
horses and 109,350 foot-soldiers (in a ratio of 1:1:3:5) ]

Pandavas Resources
Logistics :- 7 Akshouhini
Key Human Resources (Players) :

Arjuna

Bhima

Dhrshtadyumna

Abhimanyu

Ghatotkach

Shikhandi

Satyaki

Allies
Kauravas : Centralized power system. The greatest empire
of the time. But not many powerful allies, except from old
relations from far off places like Gandhara(Shakuni),
Sindhu(Jayadrath) and Kambodia(Camboja - Bhagadutt)

Pandavas : No wealth. No power of their own. But powerful allies all over
India.

Panchala through Marriage with Darupadi.

Dwarka through marriage with Arjuna and Subhadra.

Magadh through marriage of Shadeva and Vijaya.

Chedi through marriage of Nakula and Karenmayi.

Kasi through marriage of Bhima and Balandhara.

Kekaya through marriage of Yudhisthira and Devika.

Matsya through marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara.

The Rakshasas through marriage of Bhima and Hidimba.

The Nagas through marriage of Arjuna and Uloopi.

Leadership
Kauravas : Centralized leadership. One Head of Army at
a time, who has supreme authority of 11 akshouhini of
army Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya and Ashwatthama.

Pandavas : Distributed leadership. Seven commanders for the seven divisions.

(1 man command 1 akshouhini each).

Virat (King of Matsya).

Drupad (King of Pancala).

Sahadeva(King of Magadha).

Dhrshtaketu (King of Chedi).

Satyaki (Only warrior from Dwarka).

Shikhandi (Prince of Pancala).

Dhrshtadymna Commander in Chief.

Arjuna Supreme Commander.

Krishna Arjunas charioteer and counselor.

Team Spirit
Kauravas : No team spirit. They all fought their individual wars.

Bhishma : For his Vow to protect the throne Hastinapur.

Drona and Kripa : They owed allegiance to the throne.

Shalya : Simply cheated by Duryodhana to be there. Was originally a

Pandava ally.

Karna : To prove his mantle against Arjuna. Friendship for

Duryodhana.

They didnt gel well with each other. Bhishma and Karna. Bhisma and
Shakuni. Karna and Shakuni. Karna and Shalya. Shalya and Bhishma.

Pandavas : One team. One Goal.

As men, they all had huge respect for Krishna and

Yudhisthira.

While as warriors they were in complete awe of Bhima

and Arjuna. Most of them were close relatives cousins,
brother-in-laws, father-in-laws.

More than that they all were part of the decision-making

process. It was their common war.

Individual Motives
Kauravas : Except for Duryodhana nobody wanted the War. All the 4 main
generals had strong ties with the Pandavas.

Bhishma (grand childern) Wont kill the pandavas. Will kill a thousand
soldiers each day.

Drona (students) Wont kill the Pandavas. Will capture them only.

Shalya (Nakula-Shadevas maternal uncle) : Loved the Pandavas and

covertly helped them by humiliating Karna

Karna (brother to the Pandavas) : Promised not to kill any of the other
Pandavas save Arjuna.

A Team of Traitors

Pandavas : Common goal. But the individuals had their

individual targets. Their own agenda, which just became one
with the teams agenda.

Dhratsadyumna : Drona.

Shikhandi : Bhisma.

Satayaki Bhurisravas.

Arjuna Karna.

Bhima Duryodhana and his brothers.

Sahadeva Shakuni and his sons.

Nakula Karnas sons.

Right Managers
Krishna : The Greatest Crisis Manager the world has seen.
Yudhisthira : Low-key strategist.

On the first day of the War, he played a Master game. Went over to the
Enemy side to seek blessings from Elders. In reality he made a covert deal
with them, wherein all of them agreed to help him and unfolded the secrets
of defeating them.

While coming back, he took a calculated risk. He made an offer to all the
assembled people to change sides if they wanted to. He knew well of the
lack of cohesiveness among the Kauravas. Yuyutsu, son of Dhrtarashtra
crossed over to the Pandavas. This exposed the weakness of the Kauravas
for all to see.

Women Empowerment
Kauravas
Bhishma,

: Patriarchal structure.
Drona, Kripa, Dhratarashtra, Vidur, Shakuni,

Duryodhana, Karna, Duhsasana.

No

women in the decision making process.

Gandhari

to her.

retreated to the Inner Chambers. Nobody listened

Pandavas : Matriarchal Structure.

Kunti was the authority supreme for the Pandavas.

Whatever my mother says is Dharma to me : Yudhisthira.

Draupadi was a companion in whatever the Pandavas did.

She had a big role in all the decision making. Without her the
Pandavas would have most probably reclined to the forests.

Even the younger Pandavas : Ghatotkach, Abhimnanyu and

Iravan were brought up by their mothers. So the female
influence was huge.

DECISION MAKING AND

JUDGEMENT

Duryodhan and Arjun asked Lord Krishna for Support

One could have his Army and the other could have him
as his charioteer

Duryodhan took the army and Arjun chose Krishna

GETTING YOUR WORK DONE

Dronacharya realized that Eklavya was a superior archer

to Arjun

Dronacharya asked for Eklavyas right thumb as Guru

Dakshina

IMPEDIMENTS TO SOUND
MENTAL HEALTH
Greed

- For power, position, prestige and money

Envy

- Others achievements & success

Egotism - About ones own accomplishments

ETHICS AND MAHABHARATA

The Mahabharata, an epic Indian poem detailing the struggle between

two rival families for control of the throne, stands as one of the great
treasures of world literature.

An enormous cast of characters populates the lines of the story, and

drama, pathos, and thrills abound.

Throughout all of the adventures, an underlying theme runs through the

tale.

Earthly achievements, such as wealth and power, mean nothing without

a strong moral compass to guide you.

While the Mahabharata is a religious text, it teaches important lessons

about business ethics.

THE GOLDEN RULE

The thread of dharma runs continuously throughout the rich

tapestry of the Mahabharata.

"Dharma" means that you should not do things to another

person that you would not want done to yourself.

Abiding by the Golden Rule leads to win-win situations, for

which every businessperson strives.

AVOIDING ZERO-SUM GAMES

At the end of Mahabharata, the intense battle waged by the two

sides leaves the kingdom over which they fought ravaged and
desolate.

Even though the side of right and goodness wins, they pay a heavy
price.

Modern-day companies should take note. Businesses can become so

focused on competition that they lose sight of everything else,
including the environmental and societal ramifications of their
actions.

Instead of competing, firms should try to collaborate with each

other.

INTEGRITY AND EDUCATION

Before the two sides set off for battle, one of the warring
parties learns the art of war at the best military training
school in India.

The head of the school, Dronacharya, begins teaching his

pupils how to behave responsibly in the face of temptation
and controlling the urge to exploit others.

Only when his students passed the tests Dronacharya gave

them would he educate them in the art of war.

ETHICS IN WORK

The Mahabharata warns against focusing solely on the rewards of

doing your duty.

Lord Krishna exhorts the warrior Arjuna not to fight for his own
benefits and not to satisfy feelings of greed or desire. Rather,
Arjuna must fight for the good of others.

Business executives can take this message to heart. While having a

strong work ethic brings riches, ethics at work bring meaning and
significance to profit-making efforts.

Companies should not aim just to make money. Being good

corporate citizens equals being good citizens.

ETHICAL
APPROACHES

MAHABHARATA INCIDENCES

1. Utilitarian

The whole moral of Mahabharata states that

Victory of good over evil against which heavy
cost was paid in form of loss of great lives.

2. Rights and
Duties

The famous quote said by Krishna MaFaleshu

Kadachana (do your duty and do not think about
its rewards)

3. Justice and
Fairness

The intent of Lord Krishna was to defeat the

forces of evil and to establish the Rule of Law or
Dharma where the righteous would not only
defend themselves but also triumph over evil.

4. Virtue

Earthly achievements, such as wealth and power,

mean nothing without a strong moral compass to
guide you.

4. Common Good

Concept of bahujan hitaya bahujan sukhaya has

remained the touchstone of decision making in
righteous public policy in India since the times of
the Mahabharata.

PRINCIPLE
S OF
ETHICS

MAHABHARATA INCIDENCES

1. Honesty

Yudhishtirs partial truth manipulated to convey the

message of Ashwathamas death.

2. Values

The head of the school, Dronacharya, begins

teaching his pupils how to behave responsibly in the
face of temptation and controlling the urge to exploit
others.
Only when his students passed the tests
Dronacharya gave them would he educate them in
the art of war.

3.
Transparency

Drona too indirectly gave away his secret, by saying

he was invulnerable as long as he held a weapon.

5.
Respectfulnes
s

Draupadis chirharan in front of whole assembly

where Krishna protected her dignity.

6. Legality

Every step took by Krishna were wrong in some or

the other way when it came to ethics but then it was
already said the means are never important

7.

Bhishma did not fight a warrior like Shikhandi

CONCLUDING STRATEGIES
Here goes the strategy you could apply to your startup and
win against all odds in your way:

Prepare before hand and turn your weakness in to your

Strength

Make powerful Allies

Share your responsibilities

Teamwork succeeds where individual efforts fails

The Right Managers : To inspire, invigorate, counsel in

crisis .

The right team is made by selecting right individuals, get

the right man for the right job and you make great
symphony.

The best man for the job is not the one with the best
capabilities but one with the greatest commitment

Hire Right Manager who can inspire, take risks and exploit
weaknesses of the enemy

Know

Ground

realities.

Accept

different

Cooperate.

Empower Women, balance the equation

ideologies.

THANK YOU!!