So we should be searching after eternal happiness, eternal life, eternal engagement. That is success of life. And if we hanker after temporary things, that is not very good intelligence. Therefore bhakti means when one is convinced that "Anything of this material world cannot make me happy." That is . . . That conviction is the beginning of pure devotion. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11). You have to make zero, everything material. That can be possible as we advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Then bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt (SB 11.2.42). You haven't got to . . . The jñānīs, yogīs, they try to be detached from this material things by speculation, by knowledge. Brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā. By speculating, jagan mithyā, "This world is false. Brahman, ātmā, spirit soul is satya, the truth." They do, but it is not possible. Simply by speculating, it is not possible. You have to engage yourself in bhakti.
- brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
- na śocati na kāṅkṣati
- samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
- mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
- (BG 18.54)
These are the processes to reach the platform of bhakti, devotion. But if you do not stick to the devotional platform, you'll fall down. However you may try to become detached from material things, unless you are fully engaged in bhakti . . . Then by bhakti you'll be able to realize God realization. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55). Simply by bhakti one can understand. And as soon as one understands Kṛṣṇa, then viraktir anyatra syāt (SB 11.2.42). Then you'll be detached. Yad avadhi mama cetaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravinde nava-nava-dhāma . . . When our pleasure exchange will be done between Kṛṣṇa and ourself, then we shall be detached. Otherwise not. Otherwise it is not possible. Daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14).
So Prahlāda Mahārāja is realizing that anything material possession, it has no value. It may have some value temporary, but there is risk also. For some temporary enjoyment there is so many risk. The enjoyment . . . The highest enjoyment in the material world is sex. So for some temporary happiness we may enjoy sex, but there are many, what is called, after-results that is not very happy. Yan-maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham (SB 7.9.45). After-result is very bad. Either illicit sex or legal sex, the after-result is not good. There are so many aftereffects. Even if you live . . . Of course, that is the Vedic training, dharmāviruddho-kāmaḥ (BG 7.11), sex life not against Vedic injunction. Vedic injunction is that "Do not waste your semina unnecessarily. Only you have sex life for begetting nice children, good population." That much, order. So even it is done according to the Vedic principle, still, there are so many sufferings—you have to take care of the children; you have to educate them; you have to see that they are well raised. So many. So that is also botheration. But if you can remain brahmacārī, oh, you avoid this botheration.