Kautilya's Arthashastra 5.6.34

5.6.34

saṃpannābhāve 'vyasaninaṃ kumāraṃ rājakanyāṃ garbhiṇīṃ devīṃ vā puraskṛtya mahāmātrān saṃnipātya brūyāt "ayaṃ vo nikṣepaḥ, pitaram asyāvekṣadhvaṃ sattvābhijanam ātmanaś ca, dhvajamātro 'yaṃ bhavanta eva svāminaḥ, kathaṃ vā kriyatām" iti //

"But it is," says Kautilya, "unrighteous to do an act which excites popular fury; nor is it an accepted rule. He shall, therefore, install in the kingdom such a son of the king as is possessed of amiable qualities. In the absence of a prince of good character, he may place before himself a wicked prince, or a princess, or the pregnant queen, and tell the other ministers:--‘This is your caste (kshepa); look to the father of this (boy) as well as to your own valour and descent; this (boy) is merely a flag; and yourselves are the lords; pray, how shall I act’?"