Learning from Yudhisthira's personality to improve quality of life

Yudhisthira, eldest of the much celebrated Pandavas, was the ruler of Hastinapur and a predecessor to Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjuna. Before the annihilation at Kurukshetra, Yudhisthira ruled over Indraprastha, until the brothers were sent to a thirteen year exile along with their wife, Draupadi by Kauravas' treacherous ways. Such was his adherence to Dharma or righteousness that the God of Dharma, Dharmaraaj Himself was moved to an extent of inexplicability. 

One can never write enough about Emperor Yudhisthira, for his eminence as a righteous, self-sufficient being and a ruler extraordinaire surpasses ones ability to confine these characteristics in a post! Yet I am attempting to list down some of his qualities which are very essential to possess in today's world. 

Adherence to Truth- 'Truth always triumphs', as the adage goes. A truthful person is always reliable and sought after.It is always better to speak the truth than manipulate and get caught in a way much worse than thought of. A company that delivers its promise is always regarded over its counterparts which fail to do so.The employee of an organization which believes in transparency with no hidden laws and practices, tends to remain loyal, thus helping the organization reduce its resources in recruitment and replacement. 

Objectivity- This is a great virtue, acquired rather than inherited. When Jayadratha was brought to Yudhisthira's feet by Arjuna and Bhima after punishing him for kidnapping Draupadi, Yudhisthira made sure that he punished him adequately. However, he did not order his brothers to kill him as Jayadratha had a family to look after and his folks dependent on him. If Yudhisthira wished, he could have, at the fit of rage ordered his brothers to take his life for demeaning their wife in their absence, yet he thought of the consequences of such an act and did not let his personal bias affect his decisions.                                    

During an interview, it is essential that an HR Manager be objective and not give way for preconceived notions to affect their decisions. Sometimes, the HR Manager may tend to relate to the interviewee or have some traits in common with the latter; but this is no assurance of the employee being the right candidate for the job.                 

Patient- Yudhisthira was aware that the outbreak of a war between the Pandavas and Kauravas was destined. Yet he waited for the right time and channelized his and his brothers' wrath into diligent preparation for the war during their period of exile. Had he shown any haste, the outcome would have been different and so the story of the Mahabharatha.
A salesperson works on targets for which he interacts with a large number of customers. He does not always get the desired response from his customers. At such times, it is very important for him to be patient and continue to work hard, without losing mind or hope until he is successful in achieving the desired results.

Analytical- Yudhisthira was never judgemental or jumped into conclusions, but instead made a judgement and acted upon after analyzing a situation thoroughly well. A consultant is expected to do a 360 degree analysis of a problem or situation and come up with solutions conducive to growth of a company. Apparence is not always a state of being actual; situations and even people are not always the way they appear at first. It is very important to make a calculated judgement and take action(s) after complete analysis of a situation. 

Knowledgeable- Yudhisthira, the name itself means 'the one who is stable in a war'! Yudhisthira was an adept spearman. Besides warfare, his knowledge in the fields of spirituality, philosophy, psychology and political science among others are testified in the texts. His intellectual discussions with Nahusha (cursed to become a serpent), Yaksha and Dharmaraaj (during the Svargarohana Parva) exemplify his immense knowledge in various fields. Chanakya says, "An educated person is respected anywhere he goes." It is indeed true as we all tend to look up to people who are knowledgeable and want to learn from them. Knowledge brings a person out of the darkness of ignorance.

Adaptable- Despite being royal heir to the throne of Hastinapur, Yudhisthira and his brothers spent almost half their lives away from the kingdom, in the wilderness of the forests. Yudhisthira, along with his brothers and wife, wore deerskin, ate minimally, practiced asceticism and roamed around different jungles and mountain ranges, while still managing to make associations with learned Rishis and celestial beings, native to these places. He knew to make the best of the two worlds. 
In a competitive world, one may need to travel across destinations, work with different organizations and come across people of various nationalities, ethnicities and cultures. An adaptable professional is always sought after in the corporate world. Likewise, adaptability has its role to play in managing work-life balance.

Assertive- Chanakya said the following:
- A King that overuses his stick is loathed by his subjects;
- A King that never uses a stick is taken for granted;
- A King that holds a stick, although not uses, is feared by his subjects.
A stick is metaphorically used to imply assertiveness and power. Striking a balance is of utmost importance, so that one is respected as well as not detested by the others. 

Communication skills- Yudhisthira always pleased everyone around him by his kind use of words and the right tone of voice. He was an effective listener and spoke well. He made alliances with some of the strongest kings of the world, which helped him during the ultimate war of mankind. 

Tactful- During the Kurukshetra war, upon the suggestion of Lord Krishna Himself to claim Ashwatthama dead (this was necessary to slay Dronacharya and win the war against the unrighteous beings), Yudhisthira preferred to 'conceal the truth' instead of telling a complete lie. "Ashwatthama Hato iti: Naro-va Kunjaro-va" ; meaning Ashwatthama is dead, I am not sure if the man or elephant! An elephant named Ashatthama was killed during the war. This is the ONLY incident recorded in the epic where Yudhisthira has hidden the truth, although for a righteous cause, and has repented for the same as well. It is essential to speak the right words at the right time in the right manner.

Respect for others- Respect is a two-way process. It cannot be commanded or asked for. It is better experienced than merely talked about. Yudhisthira treated even the greatest of his foes (apparent) with utmost respect. His sense of respect towards people was well reciprocated and he is remembered as one of the most respected and highly revered Emperors till date.

Association with the great and learned- While in the wild, Yudhisthira, along with his brothers, learned from the Rishis and ascetics in the forests; traveled to the heights of Kailasa and experienced the mystic world of celestial beings, lived with and learned from them. The brothers always respected Lord Krishna and sought His advice for problems of any intensity. It is very important to be amidst learned, well cultured people so as to have an element of positivity around us. External stimuli influence a person's behavior and personality, hence it is of utmost importance to relate to intellectual people.

Modest and humble- Yudhisthira had knowledge about a lot of subjects. Yet he never hesitated from asking doubts to the Rishis and exalted personalities and learn from them. After answering Nahusha's questions satisfactorily, he did not miss an opportunity to learn back from Nahusha, doctrines of philosophy for better living. Despite being an Emperor of the world, he was never smitten by pride or false ego. It is said that a vessel that is completely filled, seldom makes noise. A person who is truly knowledgeable and distinguished must not just have humility, but also be open to learning, which  is a never-ending process.

Egalitarian

Look at the larger picture- Yudhisthira always thought of the ultimate benefit and a larger cause. Despite being the Emperor of the world, Yudhisthira worked as a special attendant to the King of Virata, as a subservient  to the latter, during their incognito exile. He knew that if the brothers came out of this phase successful, it would be the beginning of achievement of their goals. This also shows that he was devoid of any false ego. 
A company underpaying their staffs to control costs has most likely not calculated the losses it may have to incur in the future due to attrition and lower levels of productivity, which are obvious outcomes of dissatisfaction among employees. The loss thus caused might be much more and may impede growth of the company in the long run. Hence, it is always necessary to envisage the future and work towards achieving long term goals while directing short-term activities towards this endeavor.