Dighanikaya 26.93

26.93

Sīsāni nesaṃ chindissāmāti yesaṃ antamaso mūlakamuṭṭhimpi harissāma, tesaṃ tatheva sīsāni chindissāma, yathā koci haṭabhāvampi na jānissati, amhākaṃ dāni kimettha rājāpi evaṃ uṭṭhāya paraṃ māretīti ayaṃ nesaṃ adhippāyo. Upakkamiṃsūti ārabhiṃsu. Panthaduhananti panthaghātaṃ, panthe ṭhatvā corakammaṃ.

‘We will cut off their heads’ (sīsāni nesaṃ chindissāma): we will likewise cut off the heads of those from whom we steal even a mere handful of roots, in such a way that no one will even know that it was stolen; why should it matter to us now, when even the king acts like this and kills others?—this was their intention. ‘They began’ (upakkamiṃsu) means they undertook. ‘Highway robbery’ (panthaduhanaṃ) means highway slaughter, brigandage conducted on the road.