शासतोऽन्यान्यथाशास्त्रमनापद्युत्पथानिह ॥१६॥
rÄjño hi paramo dharmaḥ
sva-dharma-sthÄnupÄlanam
Å›Äsato 'nyÄn yathÄ-Å›Ästram
anÄpady utpathÄn iha
The highest duty of the king is to protect those who follow the rules given to them in the scriptures, and to punish the sinful who deviate from the scriptures when there is no emergency.
“What is the use in punishing one person and not punishing another person?†This verse answers. He punishes those who are sinful (anyan).
