Verse 8.128

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

अदण्ड्यान् दण्डयन् राजा दण्ड्यांश्चैवाप्यदण्डयन् ।
अयशो महदाप्नोति नरकं चैव गच्छति ॥ १२८ ॥

adaṇḍyān daṇḍayan rājā daṇḍyāṃścaivāpyadaṇḍayan |
ayaśo mahadāpnoti narakaṃ caiva gacchati || 128 ||

The king, punishing those who do not deserve to be punished, and not punishing those who deserve to be punished, attains great ill-fame and goes to hell.—(128)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The preceding verse was supplementary to the injunction regarding the consideration of the ‘motive’ and other things; while the present verse prohibits the punishing of persons who are not guilty of any offence, and enjoins that of those who are guilty;—and this is emphasised because of the possibility of the king regarding punishment as futile and hence omitting to inflict it, which would lead to much evil.—(128)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 649);—in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 391), as prohibiting the punishment of the innocent;—in Parāśaramādhava (Vyavahāra, p. 25);—in Mitākṣarā (2.1), to the effect that the non-investigation of cases as well as the wrong investigation of them,—both bring sin upon the king;—in Nītimayūkha (p. 59);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Vyavahāra, p. 5a).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.127-128)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.127.