1176 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 28
mita-medh yadanam sasvad
vivikta-ksema-sevanam

gramya—conventional; dharma—religious practice; nivrttih— ceasing; ca—
and; moksa— for salvation; dharma-— religious practice; ratih— being attracted
to; tatha— in that way ;mita— little; medhya— pure;adanam— eating; sasvat—
always; vivikta—secluded; ksema—peaceful; sevanam—dwelling.

TRANSLATION

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.

PURPORT

It is recommended herein that religious practice for economic develop-
ment 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam that
the topmost religious practice is that by which one can attain to the tran-
scendental devotional service of the Lord, without reason or cause. Such
religious practice is never hampered by any impediments, and by its per-
formance one actually becomes satisfied. Here this is recommended as
moksa-dharma, religious practice for salvation or transcendence of the
clutches of material contamination. Generally people execute religious
practices for economic development or for sense gratification, but that is
not recommended for one who wants to advance in yoga.

The next important phrase is mita-medhyadanam, which means that
one should eat very frugally. lt is recommended in the Vedic literatures
that a yogi 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 supple-
ment 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 yogi should eat in this way, as
recommended in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and all other standard scriptures.
The yogi should live in a secluded place where his yoga practice will not be
disturbed.
