Vegeta's jealousy of Goku stems from Goku consistently surpassing him in power and achieving transformations that Vegeta initially couldn't, coupled with Goku's innate talent and ability to easily befriend and earn the respect of powerful beings.
Here's a breakdown of the key reasons:
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Consistent Power Gap: Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku has consistently been a step ahead of Vegeta in terms of raw power. Even when Vegeta achieves a new level, Goku soon surpasses him. This constant one-upmanship fuels Vegeta's competitive nature and resentment. The reference text highlights how "Goku used to have always a left hand in power than Vegeta."
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Transformations: Goku often achieves transformations first, such as Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, and Ultra Instinct. Vegeta views these transformations as milestones, and being second to reach them is a blow to his Saiyan pride.
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Natural Talent and Ease: Goku appears to achieve new levels of power more naturally and effortlessly than Vegeta. Vegeta, on the other hand, relies heavily on rigorous training and pushing himself to his absolute limits. This difference in their paths to power contributes to Vegeta's frustration.
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Goku's Relationships: Goku has a remarkable ability to connect with others, even powerful enemies. He befriends figures like Beerus and Whis, who offer him guidance and opportunities for growth. Vegeta, with his prickly personality, often struggles to form such bonds, further isolating him in his quest for power.
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Saiyan Pride: Vegeta's Saiyan pride plays a significant role. He sees himself as the Saiyan Prince and believes he should be the strongest. Goku, a low-class Saiyan, repeatedly exceeding his power is a constant challenge to Vegeta's sense of self-worth and destiny.
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Goku's carefree attitude: Goku doesn't actively try to outdo Vegeta, which is why the reference text states "Vegeta was jealous of Goku's power while Goku wasn't". Goku strives for strength for the sake of fighting strong opponents and protecting his loved ones. Vegeta views power as a means to an end, a way to reclaim his pride and surpass Goku. Goku's more innocent and carefree motivation is often something Vegeta struggles to understand, possibly fueling his jealousy.