A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c9.83

c9.83

Somewhat apart from the other rules of statecraft and deserving to be studied by itself is Kauṭilya's short discussion relating to the rule of punishment (daṇḍa). In this case, we think, the author introduces, in place of the one-sided view of the earlier period, a more balanced judgment based upon a true insight into the possible consequences of different forms of punishment. In the passage bearing on this point Kauṭilya, rejecting the suggestion that the king should be ever ready to strike, says, "He who inflicts severe punishment becomes oppressive to all creatures: he who inflicts mild punishment is overpowered: he who inflicts just punishment is respected." Tracing this dictum to its ultimate cause, Kauṭilya states, "For, punishment when directed with consideration unites the people with virtue, wealth and desire, but when it is misapplied under the influence of greed and anger through ignorance, it irritates even the hermits and the ascetics, not to speak of the