In plain words
From the time of rising at daybreak, every mouth one hears is saying ‘Happy Birthday’. What is its inner meaning? Are they saying the words knowing what they mean? Or are they saying it only as some worldly custom? That is the doubt that arises. In the English language ‘happy’ means santōṣa. What is the definition of the word santōṣa? ‘Tōṣa’ means gladness. ‘Tōṣa’ is what shows forth the nature that dwells in the heart.
Man is happy only when desires wane
The root of happiness is sacrifice. The cause of sorrow is craving. This craving is of two kinds. One is to crave that results and things which come to no one else should come to oneself. The second is to crave that the joy, the comfort or the things that have come to oneself should not come to anyone else. Both of these are laughable. Craving is like man's shadow. With this shadow in front of him, even if he runs as fast as an arrow, he cannot catch it. Only when he puts this shadow behind him does it follow him. So, however many efforts we make with our cravings in front of us, we cannot satisfy them. When we journey on with our cravings put behind us, the result comes following after us. Craving is the fruit of greed. As greed wanes, craving wanes with it. When craving and greed wane, desires go on waning of their own accord. When desires wane, then man attains happiness.
Ānanda is man's innate nature
The one who trusted in Nārāyaṇa was Prahlāda. The one who trusted in names and forms was Hiraṇyakaśipu. Prahlāda, who trusted in Nārāyaṇa, had nothing but Ānanda, always. Hiraṇyakaśipu, who took refuge in names and forms, had nothing but sorrow, always. The radiance on the face of those who enjoy Ānanda is something you long to gaze at for as long as you can. It brings Ānanda to those who see it, too. The face of one who grieves becomes distorted. Ānanda gives great strength. Sorrow wears away all strength. So Ānanda is not something merely artificial, nor something made up. There is no need to do many sādhanas for the sake of Ānanda. Man is himself made of Ānanda. Only because he cannot recognise his own Satya does he scramble after Ānanda outside. One who has recognised the principle of the Ātma, eternal, of Satya and pure, is himself the home of Ānanda. The Bhagavad Gītā teaches in many ways the principle ‘Ānanda is Brahman’. Ānanda is in Prahlāda's very name. Hlāda means Ānanda. ‘Pra’ means Ānanda in its fullness. So Prahlāda means one who is filled with Ānanda in its fullness. Where did Prahlāda find this perfect Ānanda? Because he cast off names and forms, kept the principle of the Ātma alone as his goal, and merged his Manas in the principle of Nārāyaṇa, he became one made of Ānanda. Man comes to experience such a state in sleep. In deep sleep man keeps no form or name in his memory and loses touch with all the senses, and so he enjoys full Ānanda. This is what is called the state of ‘suṣupti’.