तं देशकालौ शक्तिं च विद्यां चावेक्ष्य तत्त्वतः । यथार्हतः सम्प्रणयेन्नरेष्वन्यायवर्तिषु ॥ १६ ॥
Having fully considered the time and the place (of the offence), the strength and the knowledge (of the offender), let him justly inflict that (punishment) on men who act unjustly.
स राजा पुरुषो दण्डः स नेता शासिता च सः । चतुर्णामाश्रमाणां च धर्मस्य प्रतिभूः स्मृतः ॥ १७ ॥
Punishment is (in reality) the king (and) the male, that the manager of affairs, that the ruler, and that is called the surety for the four orders’obedience to the law.
Punishment alone governs all created beings, punishment alone protects them, punishment watches over them while they sleep; the wise declare punishment (to be identical with) the law.
समीक्ष्य स धृतः सम्यक् सर्वा रञ्जयति प्रजाः । असमीक्ष्य प्रणीतस्तु विनाशयति सर्वतः ॥ १९ ॥
If (punishment) is properly inflicted after (due) consideration, it makes all people happy; but inflicted without consideration, it destroys everything.