Garga Samhita

The original Vedic srutis and their derivative smrtis mostly reflect the general interests of human beings, who strive for material progress, rarely inquiring philosophically into the purpose of life. The confidential science of pure devotional service is taught explicitly only in a few Vedic scriptures little known to the public. Among these rare texts are the Gopala tapani Upanisad, the Narada Pancaratra, the Garga Samhita, the Visnu Purana, the Hari-vamsa Upapurana, the Uttara-khanda of the Padma Purana, and the Bhagavata Maha-purana. Garga Muni appears in the pastimes of Lord Krsna, as we read in the book, KRSNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead: After this incident, Vasudeva asked him family priest, Garga Muni, to visit the place of Nanda Maharaja in order to astrologically calculate the future life of Krsna. Garga Muni was a great saintly sage who had undergone many austerities and penances and been appointed priest of the Yadu dynasty. There was a king named Pratibahu, the son of Vajra, who resided at Mathura, the abode of Lord Krsna. His wife was named Malini. He performed some difficult vows in the hopes of receiving a son. And yet, in spite of all his endeavors, the king did not receive a son and so he became quite morose. No one could console him because it was his belief that the life of a man without a son is completely useless. One day, after the king had become old and grey, the sage, Sandilya, came to him. Seeing how the king appeared morose, the sage inquired about his welfare. In reply, King Pratibahu revealed to him is misfortune of having no son. The sage then spoke to the king for his welfare. Sandilya Muni said, O King, after trying so many means for fulfilling your desire, without success, you should now listen to the Garga Samhita, along with your wife. In this Kali-yuga, Lord Visnu bestows riches and sons upon those who relish this divine literature. And, at the end of life, such persons proceed to the abode of the Lord, Goloka. There are no hard and fast rules for listening to the Garga Samhitait can be heard at all times and at all places. However, those who are not devoted to their spiritual master, who have no faith in the existence of God, who are sinful, and who do not follow the life of a Vaisnava, will achieve no good result while listening to the Garga Samhita.