### SB 3.28.3

> ग्राम्यधर्मनिवृत्तिश्च मोक्षधर्मरतिस्तथा ।\
> मितमेध्यादनं शश्वद्विविक्तक्षेमसेवनम् ॥३॥

> grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś ca\
> mokṣa-dharma-ratis tathā\
> mita-medhyādanaṁ śaśvad\
> vivikta-kṣema-sevanam

*grāmya*—conventional; *dharma*—religious practice; *nivṛttiḥ*—ceasing; *ca*—and; *mokṣa*—for salvation; *dharma*—religious practice; *ratiḥ*—being attracted to; *tathā*—in that way; *mita*—little; *medhya*—pure; *adanam*—eating; *śaśvat*—always; *vivikta*—secluded; *kṣema*—peaceful; *sevanam*—dwelling.

**One should cease performing conventional religious practices and should be attracted to those which lead to salvation. One should eat very frugally and should always remain secluded so that he can achieve the highest perfection of life.**

It is recommended herein that religious practice for economic development or the satisfaction of sense desires should be avoided. Religious practices should be executed only to gain freedom from the clutches of material nature. It is stated in the beginning of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* that the topmost religious practice is that by which one can attain to the transcendental devotional service of the Lord, without reason or cause. Such religious practice is never hampered by any impediments, and by its performance one actually becomes satisfied. Here this is recommended as *mokṣa-dharma,* religious practice for salvation, or transcendence of the clutches of material contamination. Generally people execute religious practices for economic development or sense gratification, but that is not recommended for one who wants to advance in *yoga.*

The next important phrase is *mita-medhyādanam,* which means that one should eat very frugally. It is recommended in the Vedic literatures that a *yogī* eat only half what he desires according to his hunger. If one is so hungry that he could devour one pound of foodstuffs, then instead of eating one pound, he should consume only half a pound and supplement this with four ounces of water; one fourth of the stomach should be left empty for passage of air in the stomach. If one eats in this manner, he will avoid indigestion and disease. The *yogī* should eat in this way, as recommended in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* and all other standard scriptures. The *yogī* should live in a secluded place, where his *yoga* practice will not be disturbed.