Who they are
Krishna is one of the most beloved figures in Hindu tradition — a divine incarnation (avatar of Vishnu) who is simultaneously playful child, cunning strategist, and philosopher-king. In the Mahabharata he serves as charioteer and counsel to Arjuna, and the conversation between them becomes the Bhagavad Gita — one of the great texts on duty, action, and detachment from outcome. Referenced in leadership writing (notably by Devdutt Pattanaik) as a model for leaders who must act decisively in morally ambiguous situations.
Core Ideas
- Karma yoga — act without attachment to the fruits of action
- Dharma — duty over comfort, even when the path is unclear
- The leader as counselor, not hero — guiding others to their own decision
Related
- Mahabharata — the epic in which Krishna plays the pivotal advisor role
- Lakshmi — fellow deity; Krishna and Lakshmi figures often discussed together in Pattanaik's leadership work