Regulative life cures the material disease of repeated birth and death through responsible spiritual austerity.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.12 — June 25, 1975, Los Angeles 750625SB-LOS ANGELES [42:20 Minutes] SB-06.01.12_750625SB-LOS ANGELES Santoṣa: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, synonyms, etc.] nāśnataḥ pathyam evānnaṁ vyādhayo 'bhibhavanti hi evaṁ niyamakṛd rājan śanaiḥ kṣemāya kalpate [SB 6.1.12] [Prabhupāda corrects pronunciation of annam when devotees chant] [synonyms] [05:58] Translation: "My dear King, the pure, uncontaminated food prescribed by a physician is suitable for a diseased person.
If the patient continues eating such food, the infection of disease cannot touch him, for although diseased, he gradually advances on the path toward cure. Similarly, if one follows the regulative principles of preliminary knowledge, he gradually progresses toward liberation from material contamination." Prabhupāda: nāśnataḥ pathyam evānnaṁ vyādhayo 'bhibhavanti hi evaṁ niyamakṛd rājan śanaiḥ kṣemāya kalpate [SB 6.1.12] So Parīkṣit Mahārāja, he, prāyaścittam atho 'pārtham [SB 6.1.10], he rejected this prāyaścitta policy, "I do something wrong and..." Just like in your country it is very... You make little mistake in driving car and you get a ticket. You go to the police and give some fine.
But you should be careful, no again ticket, again ticket. So this is condemned by Parīkṣit Mahārāja, that we can do mistake once or twice, but what is this? I go on committing mistake, and the police ticket is there, and again fine..., give, pay fine, and again do the same mistake again, again and again? Punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām [SB 7.5.30].
Better be careful. That is being prescribed, that aśnataḥ pathyam eva annam. Pathyam means just suitable for your health. Such kind of foodstuff, you should eat. If you don't eat, then you'll fall sick.
You cannot avoid eating. That is essential for maintaining the body. But if you eat everything, whatever you like, then you cannot keep good health. The example is given that if we do not carefully live, we shall be liable to be punishment.
But people do not care for punishment. "Oh, we shall see later on. Now let me enjoy." This is going on. The modern civilization means they do not care for next life or hellish condition of life.
They do not care. They do not believe. It is great relief: "If I think that there is next life and I will have to suffer for my sinful activities, then life becomes very difficult, extravagance. Better don't accept this 'There is no life,' and then go on doing whatever we like." This is modern civilization.