Shloka 43
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
तत्र दाता न हन्तव्य: क्षत्रियेण विशेषतः । प्रकाशं वाप्रकाशं वा बुद्ध्वा दोषबलाबलम्
tatra dātā na hantavyaḥ kṣatriyeṇa viśeṣataḥ | prakāśaṃ vāprakāśaṃ vā buddhvā doṣa-balābalam ||
Ainsi, un bienfaiteur—celui qui donne et soutient autrui—ne doit pas être mis à mort; et cette règle lie plus strictement encore un kṣatriya. Au grand jour comme en secret, un souverain ne doit pas lever la main contre un tel homme sans d’abord discerner la nature de la faute et en peser la gravité et la force; ce n’est qu’après avoir jugé si le tort est léger ou lourd qu’il convient d’agir.
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must exercise restraint: a known benefactor should not be killed, and any response to wrongdoing must be preceded by careful assessment of the offense’s seriousness and weight, avoiding rash or covert violence.
Brahmadatta is instructing on righteous governance and kṣatriya conduct, emphasizing that even when dealing with faults, a king should first judge the gravity of the offense and should not strike down a person recognized for generosity and public benefit.