SB 4.16.13

TEXT 13

TEXT

नादण्ड्यं दण्डयत्येष सुतमात्मद्विषामपि ।
दण्डयत्यात्मजमपि दण्ड्यं धर्मपथे स्थितः ॥ १३ ॥

nadanḍyam danḍayaty esa

sutam atma-dvisam api

danḍayaty atma-jam api

danḍyam dharma-pathe sthitaḥ

na-not; adanḍyam-not punishable; danḍayati-punishes; esaḥ-this King; sutam-the son; atma-dvisam-of his enemies; api-even; danḍayati-he punishes; atma-jam-his own son; api-even; danḍyam-punishable; dharma-pathe-on the path of piety; sthitaḥ-being situated.

TRANSLATION

Since this King will always remain on the path of piety, he will be neutral to both his son and the son of his enemy. If the son of his enemy is not punishable, he will not punish him, but if his own son is punishable, he will immediately punish him.

PURPORT

These are the characteristics of an impartial ruler. It is the duty of a ruler to punish the criminal and give protection to the innocent. King Prthu was so neutral that if his own son were punishable, he would not hesitate to punish him. On the other hand, if the son of his enemy were innocent, he would not engage in some intrigue in order to punish him.

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