Envy is unhappy self satisfaction

Duryodhan’s envy was open—his envy did not cause him any inner turmoil. Dhritrashtra's envy was hidden. He was unaware of it himself.

In Satyajit Ray's film Seemabaddha, Shyamalendu, the central character, receives a promotion, and envy is clear in his colleague’s eyes. Shyamalendu might have felt the same way had the tables been turned.

When someone becomes fixated on others.

success, self-respect suffers, sometimes leading them to neglect or even sabotage their own progress and career.

The envious person loves social microscope. He always looks for own rewards. The rewards might be monetary, or they might take the form of attention. When we envy qualities, we cannot easily acquire, like beauty or charm, we often diminish their value, treating them with scorn.

Envy tends to blind us to the good in those we envy, and we feel it most intensely toward those close to us. Recognition of others’ qualities and circumstances can trigger envy.

It is often non-material things—like talent, intellect, charisma, happiness, inner peace, or the quality of relationships—that evoke deeper, more persistent envy. Non-material achievements, like respect, admiration, or influence, are often tied to identity, leading to more personal comparisons.