Lokasangraha: The secret of success

 

Our discussion is in third chapter, which is mainly meant to objectively project Karma. Karma is very near and dear to all of us because we are all normal commuters in this journey of life. Like any other travel we need to know the ultimate goal, the path to reach there and the bag pack of instruments which can come in handy during the journey. There are certain secrets of success for every path. Whoever is in the path of karma yoga must succeed; Krishna has given one master key word which is the secret of success in karma yoga.

Lokasangraha...

Today in management science, Lokasangraha has become very important. In olden days selection of a candidate for a particular job was based on technical tests and interviews. However, todays practice includes scenario planning and crisis resolution. Krishna talks about this very very essential skill to organize, without which success cannot be ensured. Even to organize a small gathering like this, it needs lots of planning and execution to see to it that no impropriety happens. Even a small oversight could cause a debacle.

Once, there was a commander in chief leading an army to the war. His best horse was limping a bit that day. Reason was a small nail in its shoe, which got dislocated and was pinching and making it to limp. He overlooked this, thinking it as a minor glitch, which ultimately resulted in chain of events leading to loss of war. A leader should have an eye to the details as well as the capacity to see the big picture of Lokasangraha.

Many asked Krishna, why are you worried about such small small things for which he says;

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।

मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥गीत ३-२३॥

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्या कर्म चेदहम्।

संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः॥गीत ३-२४॥

Those who are at the helm of affairs, if they forget their duties and get lost they become laughing stock, and then there is no hope. Arrogant Hitler went ahead with his misplaced concept of racism, hypnotized an entire nation, and made them drunk in this thought which resulted in massacring of innocent people. France could have resisted this, but they lost the war. After the defeat, they did soul searching meeting to find the reason for defeat. There, in that meeting generals came to a conclusion, war was not lost in the battle field but it was lost in the night clubs of Paris. Many generals and army chiefs forgot themselves in the pleasure of night clubs which lead to defeat.

Contrary to this, Napoleon Bonaparte the celebrated commander was a real role model. He knew every solider in his army by his name. He was a leader who practiced Lokasangraha. Every individual should feel connected to the leader, should feel belonged to the team and the leader.

Krishna's character is such an example. He demonstrated the skills of a leader, how to win hearts, how to make friendship, how to organize every individual's skill so that no capable human resource is ignored or kept aside. Every individual capacity must be duly organized and utilized, with appropriate position and respect.

मनसी अन्यत् वचसी अन्यत् कर्मणी अन्यत् दुरात्मनाम्।

मनसी एकम् वचसी एकम् कर्मणी एकम् महात्मनाम्॥

One who is consistent in thoughts, speech and action, such a person is mahatma

Krishna says, if I don't practice what I say, if I differ in thoughts, speech and actions, it motivates others to follow me, if many people become so, then society gets corrupted, leader has to be a role model, he needs to be consistent in thoughts, speech and actions.