tad abhipretya bhagavÄn
karmÄtiĹayam ÄtmanaḼ
Ĺata-kratur na mamášášŁe
pášthor yajĂąa-mahotsavam
tat abhipretya - considering this matter; bhagavÄn - the most powerful; karma-atiĹayam - excelling in fruitive activities; ÄtmanaḼ - of himself; Ĺata-kratuḼ - King Indra, who had performed a hundred sacrifices; na - not; mamášášŁe - did tolerate; pášthoḼ - of King Pášthu; yajĂąa - sacrificial; mahÄ-utsavam - great ceremonies.
In the material world everyone who comes to enjoy himself or lord it over material nature is envious of others. This envy is also found in the personality of the King of heaven, Indra. As evident from revealed scriptures, Indra was several times envious of many persons. He was especially envious of great fruitive activities and the execution of yoga practices, or siddhis. Indeed, he could not tolerate them, and he desired to break them up. He was envious due to fear that those who performed great sacrifices for the execution of mystic yoga might occupy his seat. Since no one in this material world can tolerate anotherâs advancement, everyone in the material world is called matsara, envious. In the beginning of ĹrÄŤmad-BhÄgavatam it is therefore said that ĹrÄŤmad-BhÄgavatam is meant for those who are completely nirmatsara (nonenvious). In other words, one who is not free from the contamination of envy cannot advance in KášášŁáša consciousness. In KášášŁáša consciousness, however, if someone excels another person, the devotee who is excelled thinks how fortunate the other person is to be advancing in devotional service. Such nonenvy is typical of Vaikuášášha. However, when one is envious of his competitor, that is material. The demigods posted in the material world are not exempt from envy.