Tapasvī means those who are seeking after eternal happiness. Karmīs, yogīs, there are many tapasvīs. But real tapasvī . . . tapo divyam (SB 5.5.1). That is . . . divyam means transcendental. Just perform tapasya for realizing Kṛṣṇa. Tapo divyam. Otherwise, Hiraṇyakaśipu, he also performed tapasya. What was that tapasya? He performed severe tapasya, so much so that the whole universe become perturbed and Brahmājī came to see, "What do you want?" "No, I am performing tapasya for becoming immortal. So if you make me immortal, it will be very kind of you." He said, "I am myself not immortal. How can I make you immortal? That is not possible." So the idea is he also performed tapasya, but that tapasya was for material gain. But that is not tapasya.
Tapasya means to undergo voluntarily some inconveniences of this body. Because we are accustomed to enjoy bodily senses, and tapasya means voluntarily to give up the idea of sense gratification. That is tapasya. Tapasya. Just like Ekādaśī. Ekādaśī, one day fasting, fortnight, that is also tapasya. Or fasting in some other auspicious day. That tapasya is good, even for health, and what to speak of advancing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So we should accept this tapasya. The upavāsa. There are many prescribed days for fasting. We should observe. And the preliminary tapasya: no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, no . . . no meat-eating . . . there may be some inconvenience, those who are accustomed to this practice, but we'll have to accept.