Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership: Ethical Lessons from Mahabharata through the lens of Character Strengths

This chapter investigates how Peterson and Seligman's psychological framework of character strengths might be integrated with ethical leadership concepts found in the Mahabharata. A culturally rich viewpoint on values-based leadership is provided by "Naitik Netritva," or ethical leadership in the Indian tradition, which closely relates to the six fundamental qualities of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. The study demonstrates the complex relationship between moral judgement and leadership conduct through a theme analysis of important Mahabharata characters, including Krishna, Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Bhishma, Karna, and Duryodhana. Arjuna's moral bravery, Yudhishthira's dedication to dharma, and Krishna's strategic insight are examples of virtuous leadership, whereas Bhishma and Karna's moral conundrums highlight the difficulties of value conflict in leadership positions. The fallout from immoral leadership motivated by ego and moral blindness is best exemplified by Duryodhana's demise. In support of character-centric leadership development models that priorities ethical resilience, emotional intelligence, and value-driven decision-making, this study emphasizes the applicability of ancient Indian philosophical principles in modern organizational situations. The results imply that re- examining ancient writings such as the Mahabharata can enhance paradigms of global leadership and promote ethical, sustainable practices in contemporary entrepreneurship and governance.