Shukraniti Set of 2 Vols.

Tenets of

Governance & Leadership

From the

Golden Age of India

Sanskrit text, verse realignment for easy interpretation, word meaning, English translation, sectional comments, exhaustive introductory chapter for each Adhyaya and Sanskrit as well as English word indexes.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Governing and leading are fraught with contradictions and rival considerations. A king may be his people’s master as he shapes what prevails in his nation, but he is also a servant of the same people, as he collects taxes from them. A king should nurture and delight his people, but at the same time, he should control and discipline them. These push-and-pulls often involve not two, but three rival considerations – for example, realizing one’s desire, earning wealth in the process, and remaining ethical. A king must balance these not only for himself, but also create a context such that his subjects balance these three for themselves – that, too, as if spontaneously. A king’s throne, thus, is not only a seat of power – it is also a seat of responsibility. As responsibilities are elaborated at the levels of the king himself, then his associates, and then his subjects, a fascinating body of guidelines evolve in Shukraniti. Layers of edits and passage of centuries have not dimmed the brilliance of numerous insights into the crux of leadership and management. These are presented with translation in contemporary English, additional notes, and the meaning of each of the word in its verses.