Panchatantra – Code for Dharmic Success

Introduction

Success at workplace requires more than just hard work and talent—it demands the ability to navigate complex challenges, build influence, earn respect, and deliver meaningful impact.

The course distils 26 timeless lessons from the ancient Panchatantra into practical strategies for the modern workplace. This course is designed to empower you to overcome workplace challenges, gain recognition, accelerate your career growth, and achieve sustainable, ethical success while maintaining professional integrity.

Course Objectives

• Introduce the fundamental Indian Management and Leadership principles drawn from the Panchatantra
• Explain the relevance of the 26 key Panchatantra lessons to contemporary professional challenges and scenarios
• Explain the application of 100+ Panchatantra Nitis (guidelines) in practical work situations, focusing on strategies for effectively managing self, others, and work
• Equip the seekers to analyze complex workplace situations and ethical dilemmas, differentiating between principled and unprincipled courses of action based on Dharmic frameworks
• Enable the learner to assess personal professional conduct and career goals, critiquing their alignment with the ethical principles required for sustainable respect and recognition

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand how the 26 core Panchatantra lessons translate into practical guidance for contemporary professional conduct and decision-making
• Identify and articulate the fundamental principles of Indian Management and Leadership as taught through the stories and framework of the Panchatantra
• Apply the 100+ Panchatantra Nitis to resolve conflicts, improve communication, and effectively navigate complex team dynamics and office politics
• Analyze various workplace ethical dilemmas using the Dharmic framework to determine the most principled and effective course of action
• Critique their own professional performance and behaviors against the ethical standards necessary to consistently earn respect and gain recognition from peers and leadership

Course Syllabus

We cover 26 lessons, planned for 30 hours. The lessons are given below. Each lesson comes with a structured pedagogy with instruction, workbook and the associated Nitis.

1. Introduction to the Panchatantra and how its message is relevant to today’s world
2. Mitra-Bhedha: Exploration of the first framing story with Dharmic puzzles
3. Lessons
   1/26: Is Artha Important? 
   2/26: Is the world fair?
   3/26: Is Ambition good at work?
   4/26: Understanding the Unsaid
   5/26: Are your peers your competitors?
   6/26: How to influence difficult people? 
   7/26: Why people leave their leaders?
   8/26: Secrets of great hires
   9/26: Short term results or long-term impact? For whom?
   10/26: Should you take advantage of a crisis for Career advancement? 
   11/26: Power of reconciliation 
   12/26: Hidden Social Network 
   13/26: Svadharma vs. Role’s dharma 
   14/26: How to handle change? 
   15/26: Art of quitting
   16/26: Effort vs. Luck
   17/26: Alliance through self-interest
   18/26: Alliance leveraging other’s strengths 
   19/26: Like-minded Alliances 
   20/26: Avoiding Bad alliances 
   21/26: Power circles
   22/26: Blindspot 
   23/26: Choosing your battles 
   24/26: Diplomacy 
   25/26: Destructive Politics 
   26/26: Moving on 
4. Character evaluation for Lessons
5. Course summary, Next steps, where to go from here

Reading List

• SriVisnusharma’s Panchatantram by Naveen Kumar Jha, In Original Sanskrit and English Translation
• Natural Enmity: Reflections on the Niti and Rasa of the Pancatantra
• The Essence of Leadership by Professor S. Manikutty, IIM-A

Course Features

• Live Interactive Sessions: Engage in live lectures with opportunities for Q&A
• Flexible Learning: Access recorded sessions and course materials at your convenience
• Certificate of Completion: Earn a certificate upon successfully completing the course

*Important Enrollment Notice: Please note that this course requires a minimum of 15 registrations to commence. If the required number of students is not met, enrolled participants will be notified promptly and provided with options for a full refund or alternative courses.