Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
सम्भावयति मातेव दीनमप्युपपद्यते । दहत्यग्निरिवानिष्टान् यमयन्नसतो यम:
sambhāvayati māteva dīnam apy upapadyate | dahaty agnir ivāniṣṭān yamayann asato yamaḥ ||
Brahmadatta berkata: “Baginda menunjukkan perhatian seperti seorang ibu—bahkan kepada yang papa—apabila wajar. Namun seperti api, baginda membakar apa yang tidak diingini; dan seperti Yama, baginda mengekang orang yang tidak benar.”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
The verse presents the ideal of righteous authority: compassion and respect toward the vulnerable when appropriate, combined with firm restraint and corrective punishment toward wrongdoing—balancing maternal care with Yama-like justice.
Brahmadatta is describing the qualities of a dharmic ruler/disciplinarian: he can nurture and uplift the distressed, yet he also destroys harmful elements like fire and restrains the unrighteous like Yama, emphasizing balanced governance.