Oxford English dictionary defines ‘envy’ as the feeling that you have when somebody else has something that you want. Confused?
Let me put it in a simple way. Envy or rather jealousy is a feeling of resentment that occurs when a person lacks another person’s possession, or achievement, or his/ her quality or social status,…the list endless.
In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Shri Krishna clearly describes ‘shadripus (6 enemies) namely kam (lust), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), mada (pride), moha (attachment), matsar (envy)...and advises Arjuna (which can mean all of us) to refrain from these enemies. Even the Bible, Koran and Guru Granth Sahib preach the same.
In our day-to-day life, out of all above enemies the last enemy matsar - envy or jealousy or hatred is rampant in every sphere of life and is ever increasing with growing materialism. To envy other person is
a negative quality. Envy arises when you are unable to appreciate someone’s joy or success simply because you don’t have it!
One peculiar and interesting thing about envy is that it is restricted to a particular section or a field or a group or rather any place where there are close competitors. Here he/she envies a person who is one step
ahead. Take the police department for example --here constable is always envious of SP or DGP, so also in schools, colleges and other institutions there is always rivalry between professor and assistant professor.
Even Buzz Aldrin, the second human to land on the moon became envious of Neil Armstrong (who set foot first) after their safe return on Earth.
Recent killer Banastarim accident is another example. While common man wants justice to the victims, the builder lobby, real estate developers, some big hotel owners are busy discussing the high-end car owner’s wealth and assets! The envy is among the high end car owners, the competitors as said above.
Another thing I have observed is one person in a particular field, is least bothered about a person’s success or his possession belonging to another field and will not have any grudge or envy towards him/her. To cite an example, politicians don’t envy cinestars or vice versa, though both have enormous wealth and assets!
Envy is universal and perpetual to say the least. It was prevalent even in Satya Yuga. In Mahabharata , Dronacharya, the invincible and legendary Guru, after teaching archery to Eklavya (prince) gets envious and asks him to give his thumb as guru dakshina which the disciple promptly obeys!
In Ramayana, Kaikeyì out of envy, reminds Dasharath of two boons he gave and sends Lord Rama to 14 yrs of vanvas (forest) and installs her son Bharat on the throne. Then again Ravana kidnaps beautiful Sita, wife of Lord Rama( his arch rival ),out of envy, but Lord Rama always remain stoic, firm and proud throughout.
India has become the largest global economy. All countries are looking at us with envy including neighbours --Pakistan and China. So let us take pride as they seethe with envy.