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As already explained, one should not be idle but should be very enthusiastic about executing the regulative principles— tat-tat-karma-pravartana . Neglect of the regulative principles will destroy devotional service. In this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are four basic regulative principles, forbidding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. A devotee must be very enthusiastic about following these principles. If he becomes slack in following any of them, his progress will certainly be checked. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī therefore recommends,  tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt : “One must strictly follow the regulative principles of  vaidhī bhakti .” In addition to these four prohibitions ( yama ), there are positive regulative principles ( niyama ), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on  japa-mālā  beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm. This is called  tat-tat-karma-pravartana , or varied engagement in devotional service.
Furthermore, in order to be successful in devotional service one must give up the association of undesirable people. This includes  karmīs ,  jñānīs ,  yogīs  and other nondevotees. Once Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was asked by one of His householder devotees about the general principles of Vaiṣṇavism, as well as the general routine activities of the Vaiṣṇava, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately replied,  asat-saṅga-tyāga , — ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra : “Characteristically, a Vaiṣṇava is one who gives up the association of worldly people, or nondevotees.” Śrīla Narottama dāsa Thākura has therefore recommended,  tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta-sane vāsa : one has to live in the company of pure devotees and execute the regulative principles laid down by the previous  ācāryas , the six Gosvāmīs (namely, Śrī Rūpa