Tirukkural-On Virtue-Freedom From Envy-Kural 161

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Olukkaaraak kolka oruvanthan nenjaththu
Alukkaaru ilaatha iyalpu

Freedom from envious thoughts is to be taken
As the most righteous conduct.

The best of virtues is to abstain from envious thoughts. Envy is the attitude of mind, of not being able to bear the progress and well-being of others. Right conduct for a man who aspires for a high standard of virtue, is to eschew even the least signs of envy. That the Tamil people subscribed to this idea from ancient times, would be seen from certain definitions in that old work of linguistic and social grammer, Tolkapiyam, as noted below:

Alukaaraamai yaavadhu pirar aakam
Mudhalaayin kandu poraamaiyaal
Varum mankkoatathai seiyaamai (Thol. Purath-17)

Incidentally the period of Tolkappiyam was slightly before the age of the last Sangam (i.e) before the period between 2nd century B C and 1st Century A D.