Soft skills include not only proficiency in interpersonal, social, and communication skills, but also a wide range of self-management traits. Concentration is one of them. Whether one is a student or a professional, one needs to organize and consolidate one’s thoughts and focus one’s attention on the immediate task at hand in order to perform well in one’s chosen field. Failure to concentrate well can not only dent one’s performance but also damage one’s reputation. In fact, ancient Indians set much store by concentration and prized one’s ability to probe into higher truths or excel in a chosen vocation through self-discipline and concentration. They have bequeathed the modern world vibrant and enduring systems of discipline and a rich repository of spiritual and literary texts that are filled with examples and essences of their experiences and insights. The Mahabharata is one such text. This paper takes a close look at an episode from the epic involving Arjuna, one of its heroes, to draw lessons on concentration, a soft skill requisite.

Concentration is the ability to tune out all unnecessary thoughts and focus all of one’s mental energy on a point, usually a task at hand. The ancient Indians saw concentration as a means to delve deeper into one’s own inner sanctum and contemplate on the wider and intangible aspects of the universe, such as life and death, good and evil, and truth and beauty, and on the enigmas of matter, space, and time. They used meditation and other such focused attention techniques as a means to a higher end—be it to excel in one’s chosen role or to explore the transcendent realities. Naturally, their spiritual and literary texts are replete with instances of individual feats and successes achieved through intense concentration. The Mahabharata is one such text.

Easily the longest and the finest epic of the world, The Mahabharata is a treasure trove of the widest range of themes, characters, interests, insights, values, beliefs, and whatnot. To put it concisely and precisely, The Mahabharata is the book of life. For, it covers every aspect of life, the complete range of characteristics, and the entire gamut of emotions. As a book of profound insights and ageless wisdom, The Mahabharata is beyond compare; and as a grand book of engrossing tales, its achievement is staggering. This paper takes a fresh look at one of those myriad episodes that have combined to make The Mahabharata what it is—an epic nonpareil—to deduce lessons on concentration, a soft skill requisite.

Soft Skills Journal, Arjuna, Art of Concentration, Dronacharya (Drona), Yudhishthira, Duryodhana, Mahabharata, Lord Krishna, Srimad Bhagavad Gita.