The next set of instructions is listed as follows:
(1) One should rigidly give up the company of nondevotees.
(2) One should not instruct a person who is not desirous of accepting devotional service.
(3) One should not be very enthusiastic about constructing costly temples or monasteries.
(4) One should not try to read too many books, nor should one develop the idea of earning his livelihood by lecturing on or professionally reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhagavad-gītā.
(5) One should not be neglectful in ordinary dealings.
(6) One should not be under the spell of lamentation in loss or jubilation in gain.
(7) One should not disrespect the demigods.
(8) One should not give unnecessary trouble to any living entity.
(9) One should carefully avoid the various offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord or in worshiping the Deity in the temple.
(10) One should be very intolerant toward the blasphemy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or His devotees.
Without following the above-mentioned ten principles, one cannot properly elevate himself to the platform of sādhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice. Altogether, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī mentions twenty items, and all of them are very important. Out of the twenty, the first three—namely accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, taking initiation from him and serving him with respect and reverence—are the most important.