नृशंसमनृशंसं वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात्। पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यं रक्षता सदा॥
nṛśaṃsamanṛśaṃsaṃ vā prajārakṣaṇakāraṇāt| pātakaṃ vā sadoṣaṃ vā kartavyaṃ rakṣatā sadā||
English Meaning
Whether an act be cruel or otherwise, slightly or highly sinful, it should for protecting the subjects, be performed by a ruler.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)