Kautilya's Arthashastra 5.4.7

5.4.7

īpsitaḥ paṇeta "dharmārthānuyogam aviśiṣṭeṣu balavatsaṃyukteṣu daṇḍadhāraṇaṃ matsaṃyoge tadātve ca daṇḍadhāraṇam iti na kuryāḥ, pakṣaṃ vṛttiṃ guhyaṃ ca me nopahanyāḥ, saṃjñayā ca tvāṃ kāmakrodhadaṇḍaneṣu vārayeyam" iti //

"Following the rule that there should be no delay in putting down by force even a strong confederacy of wicked people, you should apply force against the wicked, if they have a strong support; do not despise my advice, character and secrets; and by means of gestures, I shall prevent you from inflicting punishments on any one, when you are going to do so either willfully or under provocation."