UdyamGita

Arjuna is coming to terms with the fact that he has to take action against his own people because they are standing in the path of his goals. He also understands that this war will cost both sides, not just the Kauravas’ side.

In business as well, it is very common and natural to let your own people go for the benefit of the organization. You should be ready to sacrifice many things that are close to your heart if they come in the way of achieving organizational goals. You have to be rational in understanding the situation and should clearly know the steps that need to be taken to fix it.

You should also be aware that when you let people go, it does not impact only them. It also impacts the organization and the people who stay back. There will be pain, a sense of loss, and grief, but this is temporary.

By doing so, you may actually be giving them a better life, moksha in the Gita context, and a better future for the organization as well.

As the chariot stands between the armies, Arjuna finally sees the full reality of the battlefield. On both sides stand people bound to him by blood, respect, affection, and shared history—fathers, grandfathers, teachers, relatives, friends, and well-wishers.

This is no longer an abstract war. It is intensely personal. The conflict demands that Arjuna act against his own people. Overwhelmed by compassion and grief, the son of Kunti feels the weight of inevitable loss—on both sides.

Business Insight

Every serious leadership journey eventually reaches this moment.

In business, leaders are often required to take actions that go against people they care about—long-time employees, early partners, trusted vendors, or even family members—because those relationships now stand in the way of the organization’s survival or purpose.

Like Arjuna, leaders must recognize two truths simultaneously:

1. Action is unavoidable, and
2. Action will cause pain on all sides, not just the side being let go.

Avoiding the decision does not eliminate the cost—it only delays and amplifies it. Rational clarity is essential, even when emotions are heavy.

Leadership Lesson

Arjuna’s grief teaches an important lesson: feeling pain does not mean the decision is wrong.

Letting people go affects not only those who leave, but also those who remain. There is a sense of loss, uncertainty, and emotional turbulence within the organization. Leaders must acknowledge this openly rather than dismiss it.

Yet, leadership demands the courage to act with long-term responsibility, not short-term emotional comfort. Sometimes, separation creates space for renewal—both for individuals and for the organization. What appears as loss today may become growth tomorrow.

In the language of the Gita, this is a form of Moksha—release from a role or path that no longer serves one’s highest purpose.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership choices can be deeply personal: Hard decisions often involve people you care about.
• Pain does not invalidate purpose: Emotional discomfort does not mean the action is wrong.
• Consider impact on both sides: Decisions affect those who leave and those who stay.
• Rational clarity must guide action: Avoidance only increases long-term damage.
• Separation can enable renewal: What feels like loss today may create a better future for all.