"Vaishampaayana continued, 'King Dushanta, hearing all this, said, 'Well-spoken, O Princess (Shankuntala), this that you have said! O beautiful one, be my wife! What shall I do for you? Golden garlands, garments, ear-rings of gold, white and beautiful pearls from various countries, golden coins, finest carpets, I shall present you this very day. Let the whole of my kingdom be yours today, O beautiful one! Come to me, O frightened one, marry me, O beautiful one, according to the Gandharva form. O you of narrow thighs, of all forms of marriage, the Gandharva one is regarded as the first.'
"Shakuntala, hearing this, said, 'O king (Dushanta), my father has gone away from this ashrama to bring fruit. Wait but a moment; he will grant me on you.'
"Dushanta replied, 'O beautiful and faultless one (Shakuntala), I desire that you should be my life's companion. You know that I exist for you, and my heart is in you. One is certainly one's own friend, and one certainly may depend upon one's own self. Therefore, according to the ordinance, thou canst certainly bestow thyself.
"In all, there are eight kinds of marriages. These are:
1. Brahma
2. Daiva
3. Arsha
4. Prajapatya
5. Asura
6. Gandharva
7. Rakshasa
8. Paisacha, the eighth.
"Manu, the son of Swayambu (Lord Brahma), has spoken of the appropriateness of all these forms according to their varna. O faultless one (Shakuntala), know that the first four (Brahma, Daiva, Arsha and Prajapatya) of these are fit for Brahmanas, and the first six (Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya, Asura and Gandharva) for Kshatriyas. As regards kings, even the Rakshasa form is permissible. The Asura form is permitted to Vaishyas and Shudras. Of the first five (Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya and Asura) - the three (Brahma, Daiva and Arsha) are proper, the other two (Prajapatya and Asura) being improper.
"The Paisacha and the Asura forms should never be practised. These are the institutes of Dharma, and one should act according to them. The Gandharva and the Rakshasa form are consistent with the practices of Kshatriyas. You need not entertain the least fear. There is not the least doubt that either according to any one of these last-mentioned forms, or according to a union of both of them, our wedding may take place. O you of the fairest complexion (Shakuntala), I am in full of desire, you also in a similar mood may become my wife according to the Gandharva form (of marriage).'
"Shakuntala, having listened to all this, answered, 'O you foremost one of Puru's race (King Dushanta), if this be the way sanctioned by Dharma, if, indeed, I am my own disposer, hear what my terms are. Promise truly to give me what I ask you. The son that shall be begotten on me shall become your heir-apparent. O king, this is my fixed resolve. O Dushanta, if you grant this, then let our union take place.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'The monarch (Dushanta), without taking time to consider at once told her, 'Let it be so. O you of agreeable smiles, I will take you with me to my capital. I tell you truly. O beautiful one, you deserve all this.'
"So saying, that first of kings (Dushanta) wedded the beautiful Shakuntala of graceful walk, and knew her as a husband. Assuring her duly, he went away, telling her repeatedly, 'I shall send you, for your escort, my troops of four classes. Indeed, it is thus that I shall take you to my capital, O you of sweet smiles!"
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'O Janamejaya, having promised so to her, the king (Dushanta) went away. As he went back his way homewards, he began to think of Kaashyapa. He asked himself, 'What will the illustrious Rishi say, after he has known all?' Thinking of this, he entered his capital.
"The moment the king (Dushanta) had left, (Rishi) Kanwa arrived at his abode. But Sakuntala, from a sense of shame, did not go out to receive her father. That Maharishi, however, possessed of spiritual knowledge, knew all. Indeed seeing everything with his spiritual eye, the illustrious one (Rishi Kanwa) was pleased, and addressing her, said, 'Friendly one, what has been done by you today in secret, without, having waited for me--viz., intercourse with a man--has not been destructive of your Dharma. Indeed, union according to the Gandharva form (of marriage), of a wishful woman with a man of sensual desire, without mantras of any kind, it is said, is the best for Kshatriyas. That best of men, Dushanta, is also high-souled and Dharmic. You have, O Shakuntala, accepted him for your husband. The son that shall be born of you shall be mighty and illustrious in this world. He (The son of Dushanta and Shakuntala) shall have rule over the sea. The forces of that illustrious king of kings, while he goes out against his enemies shall be irresistible.'
"Shakuntala then approached her tired father and washed his feet. Taking down the load he had with him and placing the fruits in proper order, she told him, 'It is your duty to give your grace to that Dushanta whom I have accepted for my husband, as well as his ministers!'
"Kanwa replied, 'O you of the fairest complexion (Shakuntala), for your sake I am inclined to bless him. But receive from me, O blessed one, the boon that you desire.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'Shakuntala, thereupon, moved by desire of benefiting Dushanta, asked the boon that the Paurava monarchs might ever be Dharmic and never deprived of their thrones.'"
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