Motivation through envy and jealousy: analyzing narratives from Mahabharata

The aim of the present study is to understand the role of emotions, particularly jealousy and envy as a motivating factor for achievement, from Mahabharata’s (Indian epic) perspective. Negative emotions are more powerful as the fear of loss or the avoidance of pain has a much stronger grip on the individual, they are mostly experienced when the goals are blocked and thus motivate one more powerfully towards the achievement of a goal due to the disequilibrium experienced. The methodology involved analyzing selective episodes from B.R Chopra’s Mahabharata, using narrative analysis and in turn understanding from the characters, the role of emotions as a motivating factor for the above mentioned variable in the context of organization.