Ethics and the 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. Western readers can easily compare dharma to the Golden Rule. The Mahabharata's teachings also apply to the business world. 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. Ramnath Subramanian, columnist for the Huffington Post, comments that the executives at British Petroleum could have prevented the tragic oil spill in May 2010 if they had focused on leadership and not profit margins.

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.

References

• WordNet Search: Mahabharata
• "The Economic Times"; Murthy, Ambani and Tips to Win from Mahabharata; Laxmi Devi; November 14, 2005
• The Huffington Post; Plugging the Integrity Leak: Business Ethics and Lessons from the Mahabharata; Ramnath Subramanian; May 18, 2010
• Wittenberg Center for Global Ethics: Business Ethics and the Golden Rule. Andreas Suchanek
• AIMS International Conference on Value-Based Management. Management and Business Ethics Through Indian Scriptures and Traditions. Yog Raj Singh and Ankur Bhatnagar