Tirukkural-On Virtue-On Right Conduct-Kural 135

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The envious gather no wealth, and The unrighteous are never great.

By comparison it was implied in this Kural, that in the same manner as a man who is consumed by envy seldom accumulates riches, the man who has no character never reaches the heights of greatness. In this context it is appropriate to recall the phrase 'Kodupadhu alukarupaan suttram' used by the poet in Kural 166. in fact in the whole of chapter 17 Valluvar treats only this subject of 'Alukaaru' or Envy. About the related vice of jealousy the Bible has this to say:

'Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming;
But who can stand before Jealousy?'

(Proverbs 27:4)

And about the fall of such people again:

'When the wicked are multiplied,
Transgression increaseth;
But the righteous shall see their fall.

(Proverbs 29:16)

The Gita sees it from the opposite angle when it says:

'He, who is free from jealousy, envy, fear and anxiety, is dear to Me'.

(Gita: 12, 15)