“Chanakya’s 7 pillars of

Success in Business”
-Radhakrishnan Pillai,
Director, ATMA DARSHAN
CHANAKYA…

Who was he ?
When did he live ?
What did he do ?
Why is he a legend ?
Born in 3 B.C.
Vishnugupta – Kautilya - Chanakya
Youth – Vowed to Pull down Nanda
Dynasty
Chandragupta Maurya – King Maker
Responsible for the defeat of
Alexander in India
Wrote Kautilya’s Arthashastra &
Chanakya Niti
Kautilya’s Arthashastra
Written in Sanskrit
Contains 15 books, 150 chapters
and 6000 sutras (shlokas)
Known as a Book of Economics,
state craft, punishments,
warfare, strategy etc
It’s a Book of ‘Total
Management’
Management Topics in Arthashastra
Principles of Management Contracts
Management Education Selection of Employees
Accounting systems Consulting
Time Management Strategic Management
Leadership Skills Handling competition
Expansion of Territory, etc
 Today’s Topic

“Chanakya’s 7
pillars of Business”
Om Namah Sukra
Brhaspati Abyam..
Salutations to Chanakya
“Swamya, Amatya, Janapada,
Durga, Kosha, Danda, Mitrani
– Prakritaya”
(Kautilya Arthashastra 6.1.1)
 1. SWAMI (The Leader)

He is the captain. He is the man who leads

the organisation. In today’s corporate
world we call him the director / CEO
etc. Without him we will loose direction.
1. SWAMI (The Leader)

• Intelligence and spirit

• Given to seeing elders
• Truthful in speech
• Not breaking promise
• Grateful
• Desirous of training
• Easily approachable
(6.1.3)
 2. AMATYA – The minister (The manager)

The man who runs the show. The 2nd in charge of an

organisation. He is also the person whom you can
depend upon in your absence. He is the man who
is always in action.
2. AMATYA (The Minister /Manager)

• Desire to learn
• Retention
• Through understanding
• Intentness on truth
• Able to lead an army
• Sweet in speech (Bridge between
management and staff / labour)
(6.1.4-6)
 3. JANAPADA - The country (Your market)

Your area of operation. You basically dominate this

territory and would like to keep your monopoly in
this segment.
3. JANAPADA -The country (Your market)

• Strong position in center and frontiers

• Capable of sustaining in time of distress
(Globalisation)
• Easy to protect
• Providing excellent means of livelihood (cash flow)
• Capable of bearing taxes and fines
(6.1.8)
4. DURGA – Fortified city (The head office)
Your control tower. This is from where your
central administrative work is done.
4. DURGA – Fortified city (The head
office)
•Charming (peaceful)
•Beneficial to men (employees and self)
•Staff devoted to work
•Men loyal and Honest
(6.1.8)
5. KOSHA – The treasury

It is the backbone of any business.

A strong and well managed treasury
is the heart or any organisation.
5. KOSHA – The treasury

•Acquired lawfully by ancestors and oneself

(expand)
•One that can withstand calamity (Insurance)
• One Even when there is no income for long
time
(6.1.10)
6. DANDA – The army
(Your team)

The army consists of your

team members. Those who
are ready to fight for you.
Your salesmen, your
accountant, your driver all of
them add to you team.
6. DANDA – The army (your team)
• Obedient
• Not disappointed during marches
• Able to put up with troubles
• Has fought many battles (experience)
• Skilled in war and weapons
• No separate interest (no side commissions)
• (6.1.11)
7. MITRA - The ally (friend / consultant)

He is the one whom you can depend upon

for all your problems. A friend in deed is a
friend in deed.
7. MITRA - The ally (friend /
consultant)
•Allied from days of father /grandfather
•Great
•Constant
•Under control (not spending)
•Not having separate interest
•Able to mobilise quickly
•(6.1.12)
7 Pillars of Business
• SWAMI – The king (The leader)
• AMATYA - The minister (The
manager)
• JANAPADA - The country (Your
market)
• DURGA - The fortified city (Head
office)
• KOSHA - The treasury
• DANDA – The army (Your team)
• MITRA - The ally (friend /
consultant)
8TH Pillar ?
• Everything is seven –
• 7 days in a week, 7 colors of the rainbow, 7
notes in music, 7 wonders of the world
• Our search - 8th wonder of the world
• 8th Habit (Stephen covey)
• What is the 8th Pillar in Business ?
• Most important pillar ….
 8th Pillar

ENEMY !!!
8. SHATRU – The enemy

• He brings out the best in

you
• The sleeping giant will
awaken (Kumbhakarna)
• Taste of fish is better
which swims harder
• Challenges makes you
strong
• Swimming coach - Push
in water to learn
swimming
Chanakya on various topics

1. Child development
“ Till the age of 5 love them, till 15 discipline them,
thereafter consider them your friend”

2. Community development
“The community leaders should maintain children,
aged persons, person in distress, also women
who widows and husbands far away”
Thank you…..
 The following was a presentation made by
Mr. Radhakrishnan Pillai
Director,
ATMA DARSHAN
He is also a management trainer and consultant
For similar sessions contact :
ATMA DARSHAN
+91-9820374796 / 9819825474
consultants@atmadarshan.com
www.atmadarshan.com