be happy in the material world.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we understand here how to be happy in the material world.



SB 4.8.34

guṇādhikān mudaṁ lipsed
anukrośaṁ guṇādhamāt
maitrīṁ samānād anvicchen
na tāpair abhibhūyate

Word for word:

guṇa-adhikāt — one who is more qualified; mudam — pleasure; lipset — one should feel; anukrośam — compassion; guṇa-adhamāt — one who is less qualified; maitrīm — friendship; samānāt — with an equal; anvicchet — one should desire; na — not; tāpaiḥ — by tribulation; abhibhūyate — becomes affected.

Translation:

Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.

Purport:

Generally when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him; when we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage Nārada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him. Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one meets an equal, instead of being proud of one’s own activities before him, one should treat him as a friend. One should also have compassion for the people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. These important functions will make one happy within this material world.