SANGITA VEDA (VEDA OF SONGS)
From Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Narahari Cakravarti Thakur
2488. O Shrinivasa, in ancient times the demigod Brahma extracted the Sangita Veda (Veda of music) from the other Vedas. This is known in the world.
2489. It is said:"Extracting the essence of the four Vedas, the demigod Brahma wrote the fifth Veda, which is called the Sangita Veda (Veda of Songs)."
2490. From the Sama, Atharva, and Yajur Vedas were born the scriptures describing gita (music) pathya (scholarship), rasa (mellows) and abhinaya (drama).
2491. It is said:"From the Rg Vedas was born the pathya-sastra, from the Sama Veda was born the gita-sastra, from the Yajur Veda was born the abhinaya-shastra, and from the Atharva Veda was born the rasa-sastra."
2492. Brahma, Shiva and the other teachers of sangita (music) filled all the worlds with sweetness.
2493. It is said:"Brahma, Shiva, Nandi, Bharata, Durga, Narada, Kohala, Ravana, Vayu, Rambha, and others were famous teachers of sangita."
2494. Sangita consists of three elements: gita (song), vadya (instrumental music), and nrtya (dance). Some say sangita consists of gita and vadya alone.
2495. Gita, nrtya, and vadya are very glorious and powerful. They attract the hearts of demigods, humans, and other beings.
2496. In Shri Sangita-paryata it is said:"Gita, vadya and nrtya are the tree elements of sangita. Because gita is the most important element, the three are called sangita."
2497. In Shri Sangita-siromani it is said: "Gita, vadya and nrtya are the three elements of sangita. Some say sangita consists of gita and vadya alone. Sangita charms the hearts of demigods, humans, animals and other beings."
2498. Sangita is of two kinds: marga and deshi, In Svargaloka marga-sangita is practices the demigod Brahma is the great acarya of marga-sangita.
2499. In the various countries of the earth the many varities of deshi-sangita are practiced. Both marga and desi sangita are described in the scriptures.
2500. In Shri Sangita-sara it is said:"Sangita is of two kinds: marga and desi. Marga-sangita is practiced in Svargaloka. Desi-sangita is practiced on the earth."
2522. The songs that came from the gopis mouths delighted Lord Krishna. All the scriptures describe the great glory and power of music and song (sangita).
2523. It is said:"A person may be learned in Sruti, Smrti, Sahitya (rhetoric) and many books and scriptures, but if he does not know the science of sangita (music, song and dance), then he is only a two-footed animal.
2524. "Philosophy, yajnas, prayers and other like things bring only the three goals of life (piety, economic development, and sense gratification), Only knowledge of sangita brings all four goals of life (including liberation)."
2525. It is said in Shri Sangita-Damodara:"Even an exalted man who does not feel happiness in his heart from delightful sangita has been cheated by fate.
2526. "Deer and birds are bound by enchantment because of Sangita. Sangita forces serpents to come. Sangita stops children from crying.
2527. "Sangita brings great bliss. It brings the fulfillment of specific desires. It brings others under one's control. It charms every heart. The best kind of sangita carries with it the seed of liberation."
