Rooting the discussion to the cosmo-social framework of power as reflected in the words of wisdom of the seers and the logic of our Varna arrangement, the author examines contemporary thought on power from Budha to Sorokin. He then takes up ethico-moral power and dynamics of triguna tattwa, Rajasic dynamism and powershift for discussion and shows through examples how power has been sought and used by various contemporary and ancient leaders from a transcendent perspective. In the concluding part, he highlights the need for rising above the power-trap. - Reproduced