subjects/envy/001

When a man cannot tolerate his friend or other man is rising more than him, he becomes envious. This is the material world. Even my brother becomes greater than me, I becomes envious. Either in richness or any way, competition. So... But this Bhagavata-dharma is different thing. Paramo nirmatsaranam. A devotee is never envious of another devotee. If one friend or Godbrother or brother increases in devotion, the other devotee, he is not envious. He simply thanks him, "Oh, my brother," "my sister," or "my father," like that, "he has advanced in so much devotion. I could not do. So how I can follow him?" This is Vaikuntha conclusion. Just like in the material world, everyone is envious. If I become richer than you, then you become envious, that "Oh, how this man has become richer? We are in the same business." So this is material. There is no appreciation.

But in the Vaikuntha world there is comparative devotional service. Just like Radharani and the gopis. They are on the same status, but the gopis know that "Radharani is the better worshiper than us." Therefore their only business is how to take Radharani and join with Krsna. This is Vaikuntha understanding. They are not envious that "Krsna loves Radharani so much," and they are envious. No, no, not at all. They want it that "Krsna loves Radharani so much, and Radharani loves..." They simply try to join Them. And they are happy, "Oh, Krsna and Radharani is now joined together." That is their happiness. This is Vaikuntha appreciation. Here in the material world, suppose there are competition. "Oh, this girl has got such a nice lover. Then let us break it." This is material. But Vaikuntha, there is everything. Everything, varieties. But that variety is concentrated on Krsna. That is called atma-sammatah. Atmavit-sammatah. Atmavit, self-realized, those who are actually on the transcendental spiritual platform. That must be approved.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1
Delhi, November 4, 1973
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