Introduction In the heart of an ancient Indian epic, the noble warrior Arjuna, accompanied by his divine charioteer Krishna, raised a question that had long lingered in his mind: “Who is the noblest giver in the land?” Without pause, Krishna named Karna—Arjuna’s rival on the battlefield. The answer struck Arjuna like a silent blow. Though he said nothing, his pride bristled. Could it be true that his rival surpassed him not only in valor, but in generosity, too? Krishna, as always, sensed Arjuna’s inner turmoil. Days passed. Then one evening, as they rode across the horizon, Krishna pointed to two distant mountains, their peaks shimmering in the golden light of dusk. Slowly, they transformed—solid gold from base to crest. “Arjuna,” Krishna said, “you must distribute these two mountains of gold to the poor villagers below. Do not stop until you have given away every last pebble.” Arjuna’s Effort Driven by the desire to outshine Karna and prove his worth, Arjuna gathered the villagers an...
INTRODUCTION
The art of war by Sun Tzu is one of the oldest military treatises in the world. It was originally written in Chinese which was later translated to English in 1910. The art of war has always been of vital importance to the state as it is a matter of death for its kingdom and people. In this book on Art of war, he talks about different skills and techniques such as laying plan, waging war, attack by strategy, energy use of spies, etc. He also explains the five dangerous faults of the General which can ruin the war. In modern times, these faults must be taken care of while leading a team of corporates/people as well.THE FIVE DANGEROUS FAULTS
According to Sun Tzu, a ‘General’ plays a vital role in the art of war. A general is usually the one who receives the order from the sovereign, organizes his army, and gathers his forces. General who completely understands the Art of war knows the benefits he can get from the variety of tactics. He also knows how to handle and inspire his army troops. Sun Tzu opines that a general might be well versed with the geography and other configuration of the country but if he does not understand the variety of tactics, he will never be able to do the practical application of his knowledge.In the opinion of Sun Tzu, there are five dangerous faults of a General, which are equal to sins, which ruins the conduct of a war:
(1) The first is Recklessness: If a general is reckless, there is a tendency of making his decision based on hope, anger, or other dangerous emotions. This leads to the destruction of arms and ammunition, food, and loss of soldiers. It is always better to make decisions based on facts and knowledge which will lead to judicious use of resources. Don't forget to watch the biography of Kalpana Chawla:
(2) The second of five Dangerous Faults is Cowardice: The cowardice of a general leads to capture. A coward general may take the decision not to fight when it is necessary. He takes flight back with his army and loses the battle leading to the capture of land and kingdom. The cowardice along with defeat and capture also brings shame and dishonour to the kingdom.
(3) The third dangerous fault is a Hasty Temper: The hasty temper of the general who is easily provoked can be easily defeated by a cunning enemy who very well knows the flaws of a general. A general who gets angry easily on provocation leads to the hasty action and easily falls into traps set by the enemy.
(4) The fourth fault is a Delicacy Of Honour which is sensitive to shame: A general who is ingrained with a sense of honour is a good thing. It can be hazardous also as the thought of shame to the general may lead a general to enter a battle that cannot be won. This always leads to defeat, loss of people and land.
(3) The third dangerous fault is a Hasty Temper: The hasty temper of the general who is easily provoked can be easily defeated by a cunning enemy who very well knows the flaws of a general. A general who gets angry easily on provocation leads to the hasty action and easily falls into traps set by the enemy.
(4) The fourth fault is a Delicacy Of Honour which is sensitive to shame: A general who is ingrained with a sense of honour is a good thing. It can be hazardous also as the thought of shame to the general may lead a general to enter a battle that cannot be won. This always leads to defeat, loss of people and land.
(5) The fifth dangerous fault is Over-Solicitude for his men: This exposes him to worry and trouble. A general acumen is measured well when he cares for his soldiers, but it turns into one of the five dangerous faults when a general over-cares for his soldiers. It leads to unwise strategic decisions to protect his people. In a state of war, a general should always be ready to send their soldier to dangerous and fatal situations to achieve a greater victory.
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