In the corridors of power, where decisions shape destinies and leaders become legends, the Kāmandakīya Nītisāra offers timeless guidance that resonates with striking clarity even today. "A king devoted to justice uplifts both himself and his people through the three goals of life. But if he deviates from justice, he surely destroys both."
These words, penned centuries ago, reveal a profound understanding of leadership that modern executives, politicians, and influencers would be wise to heed. The text does not merely philosophize—it illustrates its teachings through two captivating tales of power's transformative potential, for better or worse.
The Three Pillars of Righteous Leadership
Before we delve into these ancient narratives, it is important to understand the framework within which these leaders operated. The text speaks of the trivarga—three core aims of human existence: 
  • Dharma: Ethical conduct, righteousness, and moral duty
  • Artha: Material prosperity, economic well-being
  • Kāma: Fulfillment of desires and aspirations
A leader's true measure, according to this ancient wisdom, lies not in conquest or riches alone, but in how effectively they balance and nurture these three aspects—for themselves and their people.
Yet the text does not leave us with abstractions. It gives us two compelling stories that demonstrate leadership's double-edged sword: the tales of Vaijavana and Nahuṣa.
The Curse That Haunted a Dynasty: Vaijavana's Test
Long before Vaijavana's time, his ancestor King Indrasena made a grave mistake. During a moment of indiscretion, he approached his queen during her menstrual period—a violation of ritual purity in ancient times. This transgression summoned something unexpected and terrifying: a brahmarākṣasa, a cursed brahmaṇa spirit that now haunted the royal line.
The spirit issued a chilling ultimatum: "I will spare your life on one condition—make all your people act unrighteously, so they fear me more than they fear you."
Faced with supernatural terror, Indrasena chose self-preservation over principle. He actively promoted corruption and immorality throughout his kingdom. The results were devastating: his reign collapsed quickly, and a curse settled upon his descendants. One after another, they followed the same path of fear-driven compromise, each meeting an untimely end.
This dynastic curse continued until Vaijavana ascended the throne.
The King Who Refused to Fear
Upon becoming king, Vaijavana was immediately confronted with the same haunting presence and the same terrible choice his ancestors had faced. But unlike them, he noticed something profound—the corruption that had seeped into his society, the moral decay that had become normalized over generations.
Curious and troubled, he consulted his ministers, who revealed the dark bargain his ancestors had made. The spirit would soon appear to him, too, they warned, demanding the same terrible price for his survival.
When the brahmarākṣasa materialized before him with its familiar ultimatum, Vaijavana did something none of his predecessors had dared—he refused.
"I would rather face destruction myself than destroy my people through injustice," he declared, standing firm despite trembling knees.
What happened next shocked everyone. Instead of destroying Vaijavana, the spirit smiled—the first time it had done so in generations. "You have broken the cycle," it said. "Your ancestors chose fear over dharma. You chose dharma despite your fear. This is true leadership."
The curse was lifted. Under Vaijavana's righteous guidance, the kingdom flourished. People returned to ethical living, prosperity grew naturally, and fulfillment followed. The text tells us he "ruled the earth for a long time," his reign marked by stability and abundance—the sweet fruits of justice properly administered.
Heavenly Power, Hellish Fall: The Tragedy of Nahuṣa
If Vaijavana's story shows leadership's potential for redemption, Nahuṣa's reveals its potential for corruption. His tale begins not with struggle but with unexpected elevation.
When Indra, king of the gods, went into hiding after killing a brahmaṇa, the divine realm needed leadership. The gods chose Nahuṣa—a mortal king of exemplary virtue—to temporarily occupy heaven's throne.
At first, Nahuṣa ruled wisely. But heaven's splendor began to change him. Power that came too easily corrupted absolutely. His virtues eroded, replaced by entitlement and arrogance.
The Fatal Desire
Nahuṣa's downfall began with inappropriate desire. He set his sights on Śacī, Indra's wife, despite her clear devotion to her husband. When she resisted his advances, his entitlement turned to rage.
Advised by the ṛṣi Bṛhaspati, Śacī devised a clever plan. She told Nahuṣa: "I will accept you, but only if you come to me in a manner befitting your new status—carried in a palanquin borne by the greatest ṛṣis."
Blinded by desire and drunk on power, Nahuṣa failed to see the trap. He commanded the revered ṛṣis to carry him like beasts of burden. Impatient with their pace, he kicked the ṛṣi Agastya and shouted, "Sarpa! Sarpa!" ("Move faster!").
The ṛṣi, unable to tolerate such disrespect, responded with a curse that played on Nahuṣa's own words: "Since you say 'sarpa,' a serpent you shall become!"
In an instant, the king who had ascended to heaven found himself transformed into a snake, cast down into Rasātala—the netherworld. His meteoric rise ended in an even more dramatic fall.
The Leadership Lesson for Our Times
These two stories—one of redemption through moral courage, the other of ruin through moral compromise—offer a stark contrast that transcends their ancient context. The Kāmandakīya Nītisāra concludes: "Therefore, the king should uphold dharma and strive for artha. When the kingdom grows through dharma, the wealth it yields is sweet and fulfilling."
This wisdom speaks directly to modern leadership challenges: 
  1. Success without an ethical foundation is inherently unstable. Nahuṣa's heavenly throne, gained without the character development to sustain it, became the platform for his downfall.
  2. True leadership requires moral courage, especially when facing pressure to compromise. Vaijavana broke a generational curse by choosing righteous action despite fear.
  3. The fruits of ethical leadership are sustainable and satisfying in ways that unethical gains can never be. The text specifically notes that wealth gained through dharma is "sweet"—genuinely fulfilling rather than hollow.
  4. Leadership affects both the leader and the led. Both stories emphasize how a leader's moral choices transform not only their own fate but the collective destiny of their people. 
In a world where ethical shortcuts often masquerade as strategic brilliance and moral compromise as practical necessity, these ancient tales remind us that character remains the foundation of lasting leadership. The path of dharma may sometimes seem more difficult initially, but as Vaijavana discovered, it is ultimately the only path that leads to sustainable success and genuine fulfillment.
Whether you lead a global corporation, a small team, or simply your own life, the question these stories pose remains relevant: Will you, when tested, choose the path of Vaijavana or the path of Nahuṣa?
The answer will determine not just what you achieve, but what kind of achievement it will be—and what it will ultimately mean for both you and those you lead.