[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915) › v1.c5.279 # Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.279 Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.279 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c5.279](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.279) also that of the Ṛishis, that of Prajāpati, and that of the Asuras, that of the Gandharvas and that of the Rākshasas ; that of the Piçācas is according to tradition the eighth. The good among these Manu has explained by turns. Hold it for truth that the four first are praiseworthy among the Brahmans, and know, O faultless one, that six in turn are deemed lawful for the Kshattriya man. For kings the Rākshasa marriage, too, is commended, and for the Vaiçya and Çudra that of the Asuras is traditional. Of five three here are lawful, and two unlawful, according to the tradition. The Piçāca marriage and the Asura marriage must never be made. In this way it is that the marriage must be carried out, this is the way of the law according to the tradition. Gandharva and Rākshasa marriages are lawful for the Kshattriya man, have no mistrust about them; he may enter upon them, whether they are among others or not, of that is no doubt. Be thou a wife to me, as loving woman to loving man, according to the Gandharva marriage, thou of the lovely face.” Çakuntalā spoke : “If this is the path of the law, and I myself have the power to give myself away, O best of the Pūru race, then hear my condition, O lord. Promise me the holy truth, just as I tell it thee in secret : The son that is born of me must be the next after thee, the crown prince, O great king; this I demand as a sacred thing from thee. If so it shall be, O Dushyanta, then let my union with thee come about.” “Thus shall it be,” said the king to her, without stopping to think, “and I will also take thee into my city, O bright-smiling one, as thou dost deserve, fair-hipped one, that I swear to thee.” After these words the royal Ṛishi, according to the holy precept (vidhivat), took by the hand her of the faultless gait, and lay with her. And when he had consoled her, he went away, and spoke over and over again : “I shall send an army in four parts for thee, and have thee brought by it unto my abode, O bright-smiling one.” Having made her this promise, the prince went off, thinking in his mind of Kaṇva : “What will he do, the holy man, endowed with asceticism, when he hears of it?” With these thoughts only did he come into the city. When he had only been gone a moment Kaṇva came into the penitent’s grove. But Çakuntalā from shame did not go to meet her - [Previous: v1.c5.278](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.278) - [Next: v1.c5.280](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.280) - [Up: v1.c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.279](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.279) · Pramāṇa