Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management by Devdutt Pattanaik Page A

can outsource decision-making to the karta and stay a karya-karta. We may even choose not to follow the decisions of a karta, like an impudent devata who needs to be cajoled or forced into action. When we choose to help others take decisions, we transform into yajamans. A yajaman is a karta too; but all kartas are not yajamans.
    Thus humans have a choice to be proactive like a decision-making karta or a decision-enabling yajaman. We also have a choice to be reactive like a decision-following karya-karta or a reluctant devata.
    We can let the serpent of the mind stay coiled or spring out its many hoods. Only we can make it strike.

     
When the customer walks into the shop and Babulal does not engage with him, it is the Sesha state of slumber when no exchange take place. When the customer makes a request and Babulal reacts immediately; thus does Sesha turn into Adi. Babulal can return to the Sesha state or stir Ananta in the customer by a simple question, "Anything else you wish to buy?" This one question provokes thoughts and ideas in the customers' mind, infinite ideas are unfurled, and there is a possibility of more business.

A karta who allows and enables others to take a call is a yajaman
    One day, the sage Narad asks Vishnu, with a bit of hesitation, "Why do you insist that the image of Garud be placed before you in your temples? Why not me? Am I not your greatest devotee?"
    Before Vishnu can reply a crash is heard outside the main gate of Vaikuntha. "What was that?" asks Vishnu. Garud, Vishnu's eagle and vehicle, who usually investigates such events, is nowhere to be seen. "I have sent Garud on an errand. Can you find out what happened, Narad?" asks Vishnu. Eager to please Vishnu, Narad runs out to investigate. "A milkmaid tripped and fell," he says when he returns.
    "What was her name?" asks Vishnu. Narad runs out, speaks to the maid and returns with the answer, "Sharda."
    "Where was she going?" asks Vishnu. Narad runs out once again, speaks to the maid and returned with the answer, "She was on her way to the market."
    "What caused her to trip?" asks Vishnu. "Why did you not ask this question the last time I went?" mumbles Narad irritably. He then runs out, speaks to the maid once again. "She was startled by a serpent that crossed her path," he says on his return. "Anything else?" he asks.
    "Are all her pots broken?" asks Vishnu. "I don't know," snaps Narad. "Find out," insists Vishnu. "Why?" asks Narad. "Find out, Narad. Maybe I would like to buy some milk," says Vishnu patiently. With great reluctance, Narad steps out of Vaikuntha and meets the milkmaid. He returns looking rather pleased, "She broke one pot. But there is another one intact. And she is willing to sell the milk but at double price."
    "So how much should I pay her?" asks Vishnu. "Oh, I forgot to ask. I am so sorry," says Narad running out once again. "Do not bother. Let me send someone else," says Vishnu.
    Just then, Garud flies in. He has no idea of what has transpired between Vishnu and Narad. Vishnu tells Garud, "I heard a crashing sound outside the main gate. Can you find out what happened?" As Garud leaves, Vishnu whispers, "Let us see how he fares."
    Garud returns and says, "It is a milkmaid called Sharda. She was on her way to the market. On the way, a snake crossed her path. Startled she fell down and broke one of the two pots of milk she was carrying. Now she wonders how she will make enough money to pay for the broken pot and the spilt milk. I suggested she sell the milk to you. After all, you are married to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth."
    "And the price of the milk?" asks Vishnu. Pat comes Garud's reply, "Four copper coins. One actually but I think she hopes to make a handsome profit when dealing with God." Vishnu starts to laugh. Garud always anticipates situations and takes calls accordingly without checking with his boss or master. In that micro-context, he behaves as karta.
    Vishnu's eye caught Narad's and Narad understood in that