Envious

ईर्ष्यालु

The Bhagavad Gita speaks to every state of the heart. Sit with these verses — read slowly, and let them meet you where you are.

Envy loosens its grip the moment you begin wishing others well on purpose — which is exactly the practice this verse describes.

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।

adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha nirmamo nirahankāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī

He who hates no creature, and is friendly and compassionate towards all, who is free from the feelings of 'I and mine,' even-minded in pain and pleasure, forbearing, ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, and possessed of firm conviction, with mind and intellect fixed on Me,—he who is thus devoted to Me, is dear to Me.

— Swami Swarupananda

Bhagavad Gita 12.13

Contentment, Krishna says, is what makes a person dear to him — a quiet wealth no comparison can take away.

सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः।मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.14।।

santuṣhṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

— Swami Swarupananda

Bhagavad Gita 12.14

Seeing the same divine presence in the person you envy makes rivalry feel a little absurd — their light and yours share one source.

समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम्।विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं यः पश्यति स पश्यति।।13.28।।

samaṁ sarveṣhu bhūteṣhu tiṣhṭhantaṁ parameśhvaram vinaśhyatsv avinaśhyantaṁ yaḥ paśhyati sa paśhyati

He sees, who sees the Lord Supreme, existing equally in all beings, deathless in the dying.

— Swami Swarupananda

Bhagavad Gita 13.28

Craving what others have is named here as a door best left unopened — a plain warning that comparison costs more than it gives.

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।।16.21।।

tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśhanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet

Triple is this gate of hell, destructive of the self,—lust, anger and greed; therefore one should forsake these three.

— Swami Swarupananda

Bhagavad Gita 16.21