The Ethical Leader’s Gita
The Bhagavad Gita for Those Who Lead, One Verse at a Time
A perpetual table book for leaders, with every verse of the Bhagavad Gita on a page of its own and a reflection on what it asks of a person who leads others.
What this book is
There are decisions where you already know the right answer and you can also see exactly what it will cost you. Those are the hardest ones anybody in charge has to make. The Bhagavad Gita has more to say about them than anything else I have read.
Arjuna faced one of those on the battlefield. The war was a just one and the duty was his, and on the other side stood his elders, his teachers and his cousins. He put down his bow and said he would not fight. What follows is his conversation with Krishna, his charioteer, while both armies wait. Those seven hundred verses are the Bhagavad Gita, and in them Arjuna questions until he can see what is right and do it, knowing the cost.
I have had a beautiful copy of the Bhagavad Gita at home for years and never read it the way it deserves. This book is what happened when I finally tried. Every verse has a page of its own, with the Sanskrit, a transliteration and the meaning in English and in Hindi. Under each one is what it asks of a person who leads others, a line to hold through the day, and a question to reflect on. One verse a morning is enough.
A book made to stay on the desk
The Ethical Leader’s Gita is a large hardback that holds all 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita, one to a page.
- Pages
- 880
- Binding
- Hardback with jacket
- Size
- 279 mm tall and 215.9 mm wide
- Price
- ₹4,295 including courier charges within India. Ships from 26 October 2026.
The shloka: Chapter One, Verse 1
Every one of the seven hundred pages follows the same quiet order, so the eye learns where to rest.
- The verse in Sanskrit, with a transliteration you can say aloud.
- The Meaning, in plain English and in Hindi.
- A short Context that places the verse within the conversation.
- The Teaching, a reflection on leading people and carrying responsibility, with the three areas of management the verse speaks to.
- One line in italics to hold through the day.
- Reflect, a question to ask yourself.
The Meaning Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya what his sons and the Pandavas did after gathering at Kurukshetra, the field of dharma, ready to fight.
Leadership fails when attachment divides the field before the facts are even understood.
Reflect Where am I seeing a situation through ‘mine’ and ‘theirs’ instead of through dharma?
“My reflection is one way of taking that meaning into the work of leading. Where the two seem to pull in different directions, trust the verse.”From “How to Read This Book”
The conversation groups
Every chapter opens with a map of its conversation. Chapter One, Arjuna-viṣāda Yoga, the Yoga of Arjuna’s Dejection, is gathered into eleven groups, each holding one part of the exchange.
- 1–13Duryodhana’s Anxiety and Battlefield Assessment
- 14–18Pandava Conches Answer
- 19–20The Sound Shakes Dhritarashtra’s Sons
- 21–22Arjuna Requests Krishna to Draw His Chariot
- 23–27Arjuna Sees Those He Must Face
- 28–31Arjuna’s Body and Mind Collapse
- 32–35Arjuna Rejects Victory and Kingdom
- 36Arjuna’s Fear of Sin
- 37–38Arjuna’s Moral Dilemma
- 39–44Arjuna’s Argument About Family Destruction
- 45–46Arjuna Drops His Bow
The Group Summary
At the end of every group, one page reads its verses together. This is the summary for verses 1.1 to 1.13, Duryodhana’s Anxiety and Battlefield Assessment.
- The Arc of the Group, the movement of thought across the verses.
- Leadership and Management Lessons, numbered and brief.
- The Pitfall, the trap the verses warn against.
- Ask Yourself, one question to carry into the day.
How a leader sees the field, through fear, ego, and the need to feel strong, shapes everything that follows; and a loud, massed response can betray anxiety as much as strength.
Ask Yourself When I size up a challenge, am I seeing it clearly, or through my insecurity and need to feel strong, and is my response steady, or just loud?
Three ways to read it
The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, and the book keeps that shape. The verses are gathered into small conversation groups, each holding one part of the exchange.
A group at a time
Read all the verses of a group, then the Group Summary that follows, with the lessons they carry, the trap they warn against and a question to ask yourself.
One page
On a day when you have less time, read a single verse with its meaning, its context and The Teaching.
One minute
On a day when you have even less, read the italic line under The Teaching and answer the Reflect question below it.
What is inside
- All 700 verses across the eighteen chapters, from Arjuna-viṣāda Yoga to Mokṣa-Sannyāsa Yoga.
- A Group Summary at the end of every conversation group.
- Forewords by Prof. Dr. Sunil Maheshwari and Prof. Dr. Vishal Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
- An Index of Management Areas at the end of the book.
- 880 pages, typeset in Alegreya with Tiro Devanagari for the Sanskrit and Hindi.
Begin from what you are facing
When something particular is on your mind, turn to the index and find the verses that speak to it.
The forewords
“In this book, he has presented the message of the Bhagavad Gita in simple and understandable language so that readers who may not be familiar with Sanskrit, philosophy, or traditional commentaries can still enter into its wisdom. Simplicity is especially valuable in spiritual writing. The book is able to connect eternal principles with the realities of daily life.”
Professor, Human Resources Management
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
“I am delighted to note that the contents of this book do justice to the rich legacy of the Bhagavad Gita by highlighting key themes that can have significant implications for leaders. This book is a great read and a must for every leader who wants to contribute to society in a positive way.”
Professor and Chairperson, Organisational Behaviour Area
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Questions readers ask
What is The Ethical Leader’s Gita?
The Ethical Leader’s Gita is a book by Hyuma Mahadevia that gives each of the 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita a page of its own. Every page carries the Sanskrit shloka, a transliteration, the meaning in English and in Hindi, a short context, and a reflection on what the verse asks of a person who leads others.
Can I read it without knowing Sanskrit?
Yes. Every verse comes with a transliteration you can say aloud and its meaning in plain English and in Hindi.
How is the book meant to be read?
One verse, or one page, each morning. You can also read a conversation group at a time with its Group Summary, or begin from the Index of Management Areas with whatever you are facing.
Who wrote the forewords?
Prof. Dr. Sunil Maheshwari, Professor of Human Resources Management, and Prof. Dr. Vishal Gupta, Professor and Chairperson of the Organisational Behaviour Area, both of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
How was the book written and checked?
The ideas and the base writing are the author’s own. AI tools were used to enhance the writing, and the author then checked the text again himself. The Sanskrit verses of the Bhagavad Gita are in the public domain.
What does the book cost?
On this site the book costs ₹4,295, including courier charges within India. The MRP is ₹4,995. The book is on pre-order now, and pre-orders are dispatched from 26 October 2026. The first edition is dated 20 October 2026, has 880 pages, and carries ISBN 978-93-344-7532-6.
When will my copy arrive?
Pre-orders are dispatched from 26 October 2026. Orders placed after that date are dispatched within 7 working days of payment. Once your copy is dispatched, the courier takes a few more days within India, depending on where you live, and tracking details are sent to the email address you give when you order.
Can I order copies as gifts for my team?
Yes. The gifting page has prices by quantity, what a corporate order includes, and how to enquire. For bulk and corporate gifting, write to hyuma.mahadevia@gmail.com.
Pre-order the book
₹4,295
Ships from 26 October 2026. The price includes courier charges within India. The MRP is ₹4,995.
Pre-orders are dispatched from 26 October 2026. Orders placed after that date are dispatched within 7 working days of payment. If you live outside India, please write to me by email.
Pre-order the bookPayment is taken on Razorpay’s secure page. This site never sees or stores card details. For 10 copies or more, the gifting page has prices by quantity, or write to me at hyuma.mahadevia@gmail.com.
Please read about shipping and delivery and refunds and cancellation before you order.
- Edition
- First edition, 20 October 2026
- Launch
- 25 October 2026, JB Auditorium, Ahmedabad Management Association
- Pages
- 880
- Binding
- Hardback with jacket, 279 mm tall and 215.9 mm wide (11 × 8.5 inches)
- Languages
- English, with every verse in Sanskrit and its meaning in Hindi
- ISBN
- 978-93-344-7532-6
- Publisher
- Published by the author, Ahmedabad
- A note
- The ideas and the base writing are mine. AI tools enhanced the writing, and I then checked it again myself.
Bulk and corporate gifting
The Ethical Leader’s Gita is made to rest on a leader’s desk and be opened every morning. If you wish to gift it to your board, your leadership team or your clients, write to me by email.
Prices by quantity, what a corporate order includes, and the gifting FAQPlease mention the number of copies you have in mind.