Shloka 14
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
स चेन्नो परिवर्तेत कृतवृत्ति: परंतप । ततो निर्वासनीय: स्यात् तस्माद् देशात् सबान्धव:,परंतप! यदि जीविकाका प्रबन्ध कर देनेपर भी उस ब्राह्मणमें कोई परिवर्तन न हो-- वह पूर्ववत् चोरी करता ही रह जाय तो उसे बन्धु-बान्धवोंसहित उस देशसे निर्वासित कर देना चाहिये
sa cen no parivarteta kṛtavṛttiḥ parantapa | tato nirvāsanīyaḥ syāt tasmād deśāt sabāndhavaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó domador de inimigos, se, mesmo depois de lhe ser provido um meio de vida adequado, ele não se emendar — se continuar no furto como antes — então deve ser expulso daquele país juntamente com seus parentes.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should first try to reform an offender by ensuring a lawful livelihood; if the person still refuses to change and persists in theft, banishment is justified to safeguard society and uphold dharma.
In Bhishma’s instruction on governance and dharma, he advises Yudhiṣṭhira about dealing with a habitual thief: provide means of living first, but if no reform occurs, expel him (even with his kin) from the realm.