nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her
over to her interests. On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of
conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill,
knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that
she had been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.
To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those
qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl. She should, moreover, speak with
disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their
parents, and the fickleness of their relations. She should also quote samples of many girls of
ancient times, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice,
were ever happy afterwards in their society. And she should also tell of other girls who married
into great families and being troubled by rival wives, became wretched and miserable, and were
finally abandoned. She should further speak of the good fortune, the continual happiness, the
chastity, obedience, and affection of the man, and if the girl gets amorous about him, she should
endeavour to allay her shame and her fear as well as her suspicions about any disaster that
might result from her marriage. In a word, she should act the whole part of a female messenger
by telling the girl all about the man's affection for her, the places he frequented, and the
endeavours he made to meet her, and by frequently repeating, 'It will be all right if the man will
take you away forcibly and unexpectedly.'
The Forms of Marriage
When the girl is gained over, and acts openly with the man as his wife, he should cause fire to be
brought from the house of a Brahman, and having spread the Kusha grass upon the ground, and
offered an oblation to the fire, he should marry her according to the precepts of the religious law.
After this he should inform his parents of the fact, because it is the opinion of ancient authors that
a marriage solemnly contracted in the presence of fire cannot afterwards be set aside. After the
consummation of the marriage, the relations of the man should gradually be made acquainted
with the affair, and the relations of the girl should also be apprised of it in such a way that they
may consent to the marriage, and overlook the manner in which it was brought about, and when
this is done they should afterwards be reconciled by affectionate presents and favourable
conduct. In this manner the man should marry the girl according to the Gandharva form of
marriage. When the girl cannot make up her mind, or will not express her readiness to marry,
the man should obtain her in any one of the following ways: On a fitting occasion, and under
some excuse, he should, by means of a female friend with whom he is well acquainted, and
whom he can trust, and who also is well known to the girl's family, get the girl brought
unexpectedly to his house, and he should then bring fire from the house of a Brahman, and
proceed as before described. When the marriage of the girl with some other person draws near,
the man should disparage the future husband to the utmost in the mind of the mother of the girl,
and then having got the girl to come with her mother's consent to a neighbouring house, he
should bring fire from the house of a Brahman, and proceed as above. The man should become a
great friend of the brother of the girl, the said brother being of the same age as himself, and
addicted to courtesans, and to intrigues with the wives of other people, and should give him
assistance in such matters, and also give him occasional presents. He should then tell him about
his great love for his sister, as young men will sacrifice even their lives for the sake of those who
may be of the same age, habits, and dispositions as themselves. After this the man should get
the girl brought by means of her brother to some secure place, and having brought fire from the
house of a Brahman should proceed as before. The man should on the occasion of festivals get
the daughter of the nurse to give the girl some intoxicating substance, and then cause her to be
brought to some secure place under the pretence of some business, and there having enjoyed
her before she recovers from her intoxication, should bring fire from the house of a Brahman, and
proceed as before. The man should, with the connivance of the daughter of the nurse, carry off
the girl from her house while she is asleep, and then, having enjoyed her before she recovers
from her sleep, should bring fire from the house of a Brahman, and proceed as before. When the
girl goes to a garden, or to some village in the neighbourhood, the man should, with his friends,
fall on her guards, and having killed them, or frightened them away, forcibly carry her off, and
proceed as before.
There are verses on this subject as follows:
'In all the forms of marriage given in this chapter of this work, the one that precedes is better than
the one that follows it on account of its being more in accordance with the commands of religion,
and therefore it is only when it is impossible to carry the former into practice that the latter should
be resorted to, As the fruit of all good marriages is love, the Gandharva form of marriage is
respected, even though it is formed under unfavourable circumstances, because it fulfils the
object sought for. Another cause of the respect accorded to the Gandharva form of marriage is
that it brings forth happiness, causes less trouble in its performance than the other forms of
marriage, and is above all the result of previous love.
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