यथापराध इति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०३.१७.०५ ॥
yathāparādha iti kauṭilyaḥ
ਕੌਟਿਲ੍ਯ: ‘ਸਜ਼ਾ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਪਾਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ।’
Punishment must be calibrated to the gravity of the offence (proportionality), not applied uniformly.