Lessons For Managers-Action Without Due Consideration

Story No. 5 – Lessons for Managers-“Action Without Due Consideration”

(Adapted from Panchatantra)

The story begins with a verse:

“No wise man should follow the barber's example—

Pursuing what he has neither accurately observed,
Nor properly understood, neither correctly heard,
Nor sufficiently considered.”

Long ago, a merchant named Manibhadra lived in the ancient town of Pataliputra. He was known for his regular charitable acts. He never refused to give alms and help the needy. Despite his generous deeds, fate had been unkind to him. Over a period of time, he lost all his wealth and was left penniless and dejected. He was slowly stripped of his respect and reputation. Consumed by thoughts of his downfall, Manibhadra decided to end his life by starvation.

One night, as he lay asleep, he had a dream. In it, a monk who looked like a Jain Monk appeared and said:

“O Merchant, do not despair. I am Padmanidhi, (Padmanidhi, in Hindu tradition, is one of the nine treasures of Kubera, the god of wealth), a treasure accumulated by the good deeds of your ancestors and granted by your ancestors. Tomorrow morning, I will come to your house in this very form. Strike me on the head with a stick, and I shall turn into gold. You will have so much gold that it will never be exhausted.”

The next morning, Manibhadra awoke, confused, dizzy and shaken. The memory of the dream haunted him. He thought to himself, “Can such a dream come true or is it simply my mind, obsessed with thoughts of wealth?”

Coincidentally, that morning, a barber had come to paint his wife’s nails. While the barber was busy, the very saint from the dream appeared at the door. Manibhadra instantly recognized him. With some hesitation, he picked up a small stick and lightly struck the monk on the head—and to his disbelief, the saint turned into a heap of gold.

Overjoyed, the merchant stored the gold safely and gave a generous tip to the barber, asking him not to speak of the incident to anyone or otherwise the matter will go to king and he will be in trouble. The barber promised to keep the matter confidential.

However, curiosity and greed soon got the better of the barber. He thought,
“If all Jain monks turn into gold when hit on the head, I must invite a few to my house!”
He spent a restless night planning.

The next morning, he went to the Jain monastery. After paying respects to the senior monks, he humbly requested the chief monk:

“Respected Muni, I request you to come to my home for alms today, and please bring other monks with you.”

The chief monk replied :

“Son, as monks, we follow a sacred rule. We accept food only from the first devotee we encounter each day, and eat only enough to survive. Please do not insist.”

But the barber was persistent. He even tried to offer him alms. He was admonished by the chief monk and advised not to repeat the act.. After several failed attempts, he left, disappointed.

Still determined, after reaching his home, he placed a wooden stick behind his front door, then returned to the monastery at lunchtime and again requested the monks to come home for prayer. This time, a few monks agreed.

As soon as they entered his house, the barber locked the doors and began striking them on the head with the stick. Some monks fell dead, others were severely injured, and the rest began screaming for help.

The town's chief watchman heard the commotion and sent his men to investigate. When they arrived, they found bleeding monks rushing out of the barber's house.

Shocked, the guards asked what had happened. The monks explained everything, and the barber was immediately arrested and brought before the court.

In court, the judges questioned him: “Why did you commit this heinous act?”

The barber replied, “It’s not my fault. I saw the merchant do the same thing—and gold appeared. I only followed what I saw.”

The court summoned the merchant. He explained his dream and the incident truthfully.

After hearing both sides, the judges pronounced their verdict:

• The merchant was set free, as he had not harmed any real person and had acted on a dream.
• The barber was sentenced to death, for murdering innocent monks based on a misunderstanding of facts and imitation.

Lessons from this story

1. Misunderstood Success Can Be Dangerous

· Lesson: Success or outcomes in others’ lives may be based on unknown/unique factors (like the merchant’s dream). Trying to replicate results without understanding the full story can lead to failure or harm.

· Application: In management, never replicate a strategy just because it worked elsewhere. Analyse the context and hidden variables. What works in one context may not work in another.

1. Superficial Observation v/s Deep Understanding

· Lesson: The barber saw an action but didn’t grasp the intention, cause, or context behind it.

· Application: Managers must ask why before copying a “best practice.” True understanding comes from inquiry, not surface observation.

· Understand before acting. Simply observing others is not enough—think, analyse, and only then take action.

1. Half/incomplete Knowledge is Risky

· Lesson: The merchant did not fully explain the situation /experience to the barber, and the barber assumed that he knew everything.

· Application: In leadership, half or incomplete knowledge can create confusion. Managers must ensure clear and complete communication, especially when others might act on it.

1. Greed Clouds Judgment

· Lesson: The barber’s greed overwhelmed his reasoning. Instead of seeking understanding, he jumped to action driven by desire.

· Application: Decision-making clouded by greed or urgency often leads to reckless outcomes—whether in business investments or daily leadership.

· Haste leads to disaster. Acting without reflection can lead to consequences as severe as those faced by the barber.

1. Ethics and Dharma Must Guide Action

· Lesson: The merchant harmed no one. The barber still committed a grave adharmic act due to ignorance.

· Application: Even with good intentions, if your actions violate dharma (ethics), the consequences will follow. Yukti (strategy) must be rooted in dharma.