They should overcome all senses (or sense objects) - Indriyas - that is the five Gnaan Indriyas (ears, eyes, skin, tongue and nose), five Karma Indriyas (arms, legs, mouth, male/female genital organs) and the mind. Thus these eleven Indriyas should be controlled.
Shrimad Bhagwat explains, ‘Control your speech, mind, vital breath and senses such that one never again has to be reborn upon this Earth.’ Vashista adds, ‘Those who fail to overcome their senses fall from the path of Dharma.’ Gita adds, ‘Overcoming the senses, mind and intellect; renouncing desire, fear and anger - such a person has attained salvation. When one is able to draw his senses from the objects of sense on every side, just as a tortoise draws in it’s limbs, then their wisdom is firmly set.’
Therefore one should overcome the sense of taste first and foremost as Jitam Sarvam Jite Rase - ‘To overcome the sense of taste is to overcome all senses.’ Arunya Smruti adds, ‘One should perform Bhojan (dining) in the manner that they are taking medicine.’ Just as medicine is taken in small doses and often is unpleasant to the taste, one should not eat to satisfy their palate.
The consequences of not overcoming one’s senses are explained in Bhagwat Gita, ‘To a man thinking about sense objects, there arises attachment to them; from attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger; from anger there comes delusion; from delusion, the loss of memory, the destruction of discrimination - he is lost.’
Also, Sadhus should not amass wealth of their own and thus personal belongings such as new clothing, tools etc. They should similarly not have others amass wealth for them. In this way they should be free from any such self-interest. The reason for this is that such personal wealth is only for the gratification of the senses and so should be shed. Indeed, they should renounce all contact with such wealth just as they would renounce contact with women.
Our elders have explained, ‘Brahma has created two forms of illusion for the destruction of man - women and gold (wealth).’ Furthermore, Shrimad Bhagwat has explained Suvarna (gold or wealth) as the basis of Kali. Thus it is one of the factors which causes the destruction of Satya (truth) and brings the progression of Kali (sin and immorality). For this reason, Paramhansa Upanishad is firm in saying, ‘A Bhikshuka (mendicant) who looks upon gold with temptation is a Brahmhatyara (murderer of Brahmins), who touches with temptation is a Chandala (low born) and who accepts such Gold is an Atmahatyara (suicidal).’ Jivanmuktiviveka explains, ‘Those Bhikshukas who intentionally ejaculate or amass wealth will definitely face destruction.’
This Shloka gives us the essence of Yoga Sadhana - the ability to have absolute control over the mind and senses. Those who completely master these will definitely attain the heavens and will become free from difficulties in this life. Those who fall servant to sensual needs will undoubtedly fall. One should be unaffected by what they see, hear, taste etc., and nothing should be able to pull them from their path of Dharma and Bhakti. This applies equally to Grihastas alike as Lord Swaminarayan in the Vachanamrut has cited the example of Janak Raja as foremost for he was able to subdue his mind and senses, unaffected by them, even though he was a King of great stature.