यथापराध इति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०३.१७.०५ ॥
yathāparādha iti kauṭilyaḥ
कौटिल्य: ‘दंड अपराध के अनुपात में हो।’
Punishment must be calibrated to the gravity of the offence (proportionality), not applied uniformly.