Shloka 9
सान्त्व-निति: (Sāntva-Nīti) — The One-Word Principle of Conciliation
तस्मात् सान्त्व॑ प्रयोक्तव्यं दण्डमाधित्सतो5पि हि । फल॑ं च जनयत्येवं न चास्योद्धिजते जन:
tasmāt sāntvaṁ prayoktavyaṁ daṇḍam ādhitsato 'pi hi | phalaṁ ca janayaty evaṁ na cāsyoddvijate janaḥ ||
Darum soll selbst ein König, der Strafe verhängen will, zuerst versöhnliche, sanfte Worte gebrauchen. So erreicht er sein Ziel, und niemand gerät seinetwegen in Unruhe oder Furcht.
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when punishment is warranted, a ruler should begin with conciliatory, sweet, calming speech; it achieves the intended end while avoiding needless fear and resentment among the people.
Śakra (Indra) is instructing on rāja-dharma: he advises that governance should prioritize pacification and measured communication, using punishment without harshness so that order is maintained without unsettling the populace.