Shloka 40
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
विभज्य दण्ड: कर्तव्यो धर्मेण न यदृच्छया । दुष्टानां निग्रहो दण्डो हिरण्यं बाह्मुत: क्रिया,अतः धर्मके अनुसार न्याय-अन्यायका विचार करके ही दण्डका विधान करना चाहिये, मनमानी नहीं करनी चाहिये। दुष्टोंका दमन करना ही दण्डका मुख्य उद्देश्य है, स्वर्णमुद्राएँ लेकर खजाना भरना नहीं। दण्डके तौरपर सुवर्ण (धन) लेना तो बाह्रांग--गौण कर्म है
vibhajya daṇḍaḥ kartavyo dharmeṇa na yadṛcchayā | duṣṭānāṃ nigraho daṇḍo hiraṇyaṃ bāhmuṭaḥ kriyā ||
Vasuharoma said: “Punishment should be apportioned after due consideration and in accordance with dharma, not imposed arbitrarily. The true purpose of daṇḍa is the restraint and suppression of the wicked; it is not meant for filling the treasury by taking gold. The taking of money as a penalty is only an external, secondary aspect.”
वसुहरोम उवाच