Kautilya's Arthashastra 3.1.41

3.1.41

rājñaḥ svadharmaḥ svargāya prajā dharmeṇa rakṣituḥ /
arakṣitur vā kṣeptur vā mithyādaṇḍam ato 'nyathā //

As the duty of a king consists in protecting his subjects with justice, its observance leads him to heaven. He who does not protect his people or upsets the social order wields his royal sceptre (danda) in vain.