The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.1.23

13.1.23

lubdhaka uvāca |
asmādekasmādbahavo rakṣitavyā naiko bahubhyo gautami rakṣitavyaḥ |
kṛtāgasaṃ dharmavidastyajanti sarīsṛpaṃ pāpamimaṃ jahi tvam || 23 ||

"The fowler replied, 'A great number (of creatures) ought to be protected from (the wickedness of) this one, instead of this single creature being protected (in preference to many). Virtuous men abandon the vicious (to their doom): do thou, therefore, kill this wicked creature.'