SB 11.27.7 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

वैदिकस्तान्त्रिको मिश्र इति मे त्रिविधो मख: । त्रयाणामीप्सितेनैव विधिना मां समर्चरेत् ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

vaidikas tāntriko miśra iti me tri-vidho makhaḥ trayāṇām īpsitenaiva vidhinā māṁ samarcaret

Synonyms

vaidikaḥ — according to the four Vedas ; tāntrikaḥ — according to practical, explanatory literatures ; miśraḥ — mixed ; iti — thus ; me — of Me ; tri — vidhaḥ — of three kinds ; makhaḥ — sacrifice ; trayāṇām — of the three ; īpsitena — that which one feels to be most suitable ; eva — certainly ; vidhinā — by the process ; mām — Me ; samarcaret — one should properly worship .

Translation

One should carefully worship Me by selecting one of the three methods by which I receive sacrifice: Vedic, tantric or mixed.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

One should carefully worship me by selecting one of the three methods of deity worship: Vedic, tantric or mixed. Vedic worship consists of using mantras such as puruṣa-sūkta from the Vedas, and using procedures from the Vedas. Tāntrika means procedures described in works such as Gautamīya-tantra. Mixed deity worship uses procedures or mantras such as the eight syllable mantra, described in both the Vedas and tantras. Makhaḥ means deity worship. Among the three methods, one should worship me by one’s preferred method.

Purport

Vaidika refers to sacrifice performed with mantras from the four Vedas and auxiliary Vedic literature. Tāntrika refers to such literatures as the Paṣcarātra and the Gautamīya-tantra. And “mixed” indicates utilization of both literatures. It should be remembered that superficial imitation of elaborate Vedic sacrifices will not bring one the actual perfection of life. One must perform sacrifice according to the prescription of the Supreme Lord, who recommends for this age the chanting of His holy names: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.