Akrodha (अक्रोध:)

Akrodha (Samskrit : अक्रोध:) means 'to be free from anger'. Many a times, human beings commit actions on account of anger that may result in irreparable loss and injury; causing misery to both the doer and the receiver. Akrodha (अक्रोधम् । Absence of Anger) is one of the twenty-six Divine qualities or Daivi Sampada of a Jiva given by Sri Krishna, in Shrimad Bhagavadgita.

There are many instances in which anger exhibited frequently without justification and disproportionate to the situation by the employers against the employees strain their relationship. This gives rise to an experience of humiliation within the employees that overrides their desire to work with devotion. Thus, unjustified and disproportionate anger is also one of the causes for industrial unrest. Therefore, the principle of Akrodha warns employers against uncontrolled anger. It enjoins that even when an employee commits mistake, the employer's anger should not cross reasonable limits. And this guideline equally applies to employees as well.

In case of a Kshatriya, the principle of Akrodha and Kshama (two of the ten lakshanas of Dharma as given by Manu) is of great importance. Akrodha warns a Kshatriya against uncontrolled anger while Kshama suggests that the quantum of penalty must be in proportion to the gravity of the misconduct and should not be harsh. In today's parlance, it means that even when an employee commits a mistake, the employer's anger should not cross reasonable limits. And only in cases in which the misconduct is grave that the maximum or highest penalty should be imposed; for only then it is justified.

The basic rules of Dharma, the observance of which was regarded as essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and the society. These basic rules of Dharma were declared in various works on Dharma Shastra and Smrtis. The Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata has indicated nine basic aspects of Dharma. It says,

Meaning: The nine rules of Dharma to be followed by persons belonging to all sections of society are

1. अक्रोध: | akrodhaḥ - Being free from anger
2. सत्यवचनम् | satyavacanam - Truthfulness
3. संविभागः | saṁvibhāgaśca - Sharing one's wealth with others
4. क्षमा | kṣamā - Forgiveness
5. प्रजनम् | prajanam - Procreation of children from ones wife alone
6. शौचम् | śaucam - Purity (in thought, word and deed)
7. अद्रोहः | adrohaḥ - Not betraying the trust or confidence reposed
8. आर्जवम् | ārjavam - Absence of enmity
9. भृत्यभरणम् | bhr̥tyabharaṇam - Maintaining the persons dependent on oneselfFive of these, namely, Samvibhaga, Akrodha, Kshama, Shaucha and Adroha are extremely relevant in the context of the employer-employee relationship. They can be called the five fundamental codes of conduct in this regard, the observance of which will do good both to the employers and to the employees by securing their happiness and welfare.