Duhshanta said: 'It is clear that you are a princess, [judging] by how you speak, O gracious one; O fair-hipped one, be my wife; tell me what I should do for you. A golden necklace, garments, golden earrings, and bright precious gems from various cities, gold coins and [precious] hides — [all] this I shall bring you today; let the whole kingdom be yours today, O lovely one; be my wife. O timid one, unite with me in marriage after the manner of the gandharvas, O beauty; for of marriages, O fair-hipped one, the gandharva rite is called the best.' Shakuntala said: 'O king, my father has gone from this hermitage for fruit; wait a moment for him — he will give me to you.' Duhshanta said: 'O flawless one, I desire you, [as one] loving [me]; know that I exist for your sake; my mind is fixed on you. A person is his own kinsman, his own refuge, his own path; you yourself, by dharma, have the right to give yourself [in marriage]. In brief: eight marriages are recorded by dharma — brahma, daiva, likewise arsha, prajapatya, asura, gandharva, rakshasa, and paishacha — the eighth; their lawfulness Manu Svayambhu set forth in order. For a brahmin, know the first four as praiseworthy; for a kshatriya, in order, six are lawful, O flawless one. For kings, the rakshasa [rite] too is called [permitted]; for vaishyas and shudras, the asura [rite] is recorded; of the five, three are lawful, two unlawful, as recorded here. The paishacha and asura [rites] must never be performed; [marriage] must be [conducted] by the [permitted] order — such, as recorded, is the path of dharma. The gandharva and rakshasa [rites] are lawful for a kshatriya — have no doubt; whether separately or combined, [they] may be performed — there is no doubt of this. Therefore you, O fair-faced one, loving [me] who love [you], have the right to become [my] wife by the gandharva rite.'