Kautilya's Arthashastra 1.4.13

1.4.13

apraṇītas tu mātsyanyāyam udbhāvayati //

But when the law of punishment is kept in abeyance, it gives rise to such disorder as is implied in the proverb of fishes (matsyanyayamudbhavayati); for in the absence of a magistrate (dandadharabhave), the strong will swallow the weak; but under his protection, the weak resist the strong.