“The reason for evil in the world is
that people are not able to tell their stories.” — Carl Gustav Jung
There are several interpretations to a
famous Sanskrit proverb — ‘Vinaash Kaale, Vipreet Buddhi’. It means one’s days
are numbered when one doesn’t follow the sage advice given by elders and
experienced people. It means one’s destruction time is soon to arrive when one
treads the wrong path. It means living in a fool’s paradise when problems are
round the corner. It means one is under the negative intelligence just before
the destruction. It happened to many mythological leaders including Ravan,
Kamsh, and Duryodhan to name a few.
Duryodhan’s
Vipreet Buddhi Led to Vinaash Kaale
Why Duryodhan was killed in Mahabharata?
Everybody knows that Duryodhan was on the wrong side. Besides, he didn’t listen
to the sage advice given by others. His father advised him to avoid battle.
Elders advised him to give the share to Pandavas they deserved. He didn’t
listen to them. He knew that he was on the wrong path. But he stuck to his guns.
His excessive ego, arrogance and autocratic behavior led to his downfall and
death. Nobody was in a position to help when he was bleeding to death on the
battlefield except Ashwathama who promised that he would return after killing
all Pandavas. It was the most painful
day in Duryadhan’s life who lived like a king and led a royal life until his
end. If he had listened to Lord Krishna’s message and warnings, he would have
lived like a king and earned name in the mythology as a great king. He would
have lived along with Pandavas amicably and the mythological epic would have
been totally different.
Lessons
for Leaders
The reason behind writing about Duryodhan’s
autocratic leadership is to caution other leaders to learn lessons from his
downfall and death. Excessive ego and hubris can lead to death of your
organization or institution. It is rightly said that a wise person learn from the
mistakes of others whereas a fool learns from his own mistakes. Leaders must
not act foolishly. They must be intelligent enough to identify the threats by
taking feedback from all sources because lives of many people and the
organization depends solely on them. A
minor mistake will not only adversely affect the destiny of the leaders but
also the people around them.
Take
Feedback
Feedback is the breakfast of
champions. Feedback helps leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses. It
helps assess their limitations and understand the people around them. Feedback
helps leaders become better leaders. Hence, taking feedback from all sources is
an imperative to resolve the issues earnestly and amicably. Individuals come
and go but institutions must survive. Hence, leaders must heed to the advices
of experienced people and advisers to resolve the issues amicably in the larger
interests of institutions and organizations.
Listen
to Sage Advice
During the time of one’s destruction,
one goes against one’s intelligence due to excessive ego and hubris. Kurukshetra
battle was an outcome of Duryodhan’s overconfidence. He didn’t listen to sage
advice. He followed wrong path. He overestimated himself and underestimated
others especially Lord Krishna’s powers. Hence, leaders must listen to others’ suggestions
without any hubris and ego to lead effectively.
Leaders turn blind eye to the feedback
given by others, if their end is near. Institutions and organizations act
against the interests, if their end is near. Hence, it is always advisable to
pay heed to others and elders when they repeatedly declare that the days are
numbered. Become a wise leader, not a foolish leader.
"Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead
References
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Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR
Leadership Consultants India
Recipient
of 10th International Prestigious Sardar Patel Award―2015
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