Kautilya's Arthashastra 1.4.3

1.4.3

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārttānāṃ yogakṣemasādhano daṇḍaḥ, tasya nītir daṇḍa nītiḥ, alabdhalābhārthā labdhaparirakṣaṇī rakṣitavivardhanī vṛddhasya tīrthe pratipādanī ca //

That sceptre on which the well-being and progress of the sciences of Anvikshaki, the triple Vedas, and Varta depend is known as Danda (punishment). That which treats of Danda is the law of punishment or science of government (dandaniti).

It is a means to make acquisitions, to keep them secure, to improve them, and to distribute among the deserved the profits of. improvement. It is on this science of government that the course of the progress of the world depends.