सम्यगुक्तं हि भवता दूतवध्या विगर्हिता। अवश्यं तु वधायान्यः क्रियतामस्य निग्रहः॥
samyaguktaṃ hi bhavatā dūtavadhyā vigarhitā| avaśyaṃ tu vadhāyānyaḥ kriyatāmasya nigrahaḥ||
English Meaning
Properly had you spoken, to slay a messenger is improper. But let him be punished with any chastisement save slaying.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)