Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gītā has described this material world as duḥkhālayam — a place full of miseries. In this world, suffering manifests in three forms:

Ādhyātmika — miseries related to the body and mind
Ādhibhautika — miseries caused by other living entities
Ādhidaivika — miseries arising from natural disturbances

These threefold miseries do not allow the conditioned soul to enjoy the material world peacefully. Countless people have come and gone, each trying their best to enjoy through sense gratification, but the only result they receive is misery.

Happiness in Possessions and Position?

Purūravā thought that after attaining Urvaśī, he would be happy. Though he got one of the most beautiful damsels even from the heavenly planets, he remained dissatisfied. Hiraṇyakaśipu ruled over the entire universe, yet he also was not happy.

Bhāgavatam 7.4.19 mentions:

sa itthaṁ nirjita-kakub
eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān
yathopajoṣaṁ bhuñjāno
nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ
In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as possible, Hiraṇyakaśipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant.

Even those who possess wealth claim that money can bring happiness, but we see that wealthy people are not peaceful. They constantly worry about the safety of their wealth, their children, and their possessions. Material attachment inevitably brings anxiety to the conditioned soul.

Duryodhana unjustly snatched the kingdom from the Pāṇḍavas. Yet, even during the fourteen years when the Pāṇḍavas were in exile, Duryodhana could not experience peace. He suffered no bodily disease and enjoyed all material comforts, but because he constantly compared himself with the Pāṇḍavas, his mind remained miserable.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, in one of his lectures, explains that even Devakī, the mother of Lord Krishna, had to witness her six children being killed before her eyes. This illumines the nature of the material world.

Joy in an Abode of Miseries

However, when one takes to the path of Krishna consciousness, true happiness begins. Krishna’s statement that the world is duḥkhālayam does not hold true for a devotee.

A devotee has strong faith in the words of the ācāryas and pure devotees, even more than in his own understanding of Krishna’s words. Krishna Himself tells Arjuna, “You declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes,” knowing well that a devotee’s promise never fails.

On one hand, Krishna calls this world duḥkhālayam, but on the other, Śrīla Prabhupāda tells us, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.” How do we reconcile this? The answer is that for a sincere devotee, Krishna transforms this duḥkhālayam into sukhālayam — a place of happiness, by His grace and because of the prayers of a pure devotee.

When a devotee is fully absorbed in serving Krishna, Krishna changes the very nature of the material world for him. Śrī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī glorifies this transformation when he says:

viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate — For one who has received the mercy of Lord Gaurāṅga, the entire universe appears full of happiness.

This is the beauty of devotional service. The devotee, by taking shelter of Krishna’s pure representative, becomes protected from the pangs of material existence. The pure devotee acts as a cushioning agent to help reduce the suffering that is coming forth in a devotee’s life.

It is not that devotees never face sickness or distress, but their consciousness is transformed. They see Krishna’s hand in everything, and where Krishna is present, there can be no darkness.

Even in the sadhaka stage, when a devotee has not perfected his or her life, they are ‘happily’ struggling. The struggle in Krishna Consciousness becomes easy because of the association of devotees.

Seeing Krishna’s Presence Everywhere

Arjuna was in illusion even while standing before Krishna, but within forty-five minutes, his illusion was dispelled by hearing the Bhagavad-gītā.

Similarly, we chant the holy names of Krishna for two hours daily. If we truly connect with Him during that time, why should our illusion not be destroyed? Why should this world not become a joyful place for us?

It definitely can, provided we sincerely take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.