Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 25: The History of Tāṭakā
Text 1.25.19
नृशंसमनृशंसं वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात्।
पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यं रक्षता सताम्॥
nṛśaṁsam anṛśaṁsaṁ vā prajā-rakṣaṇa-kāraṇāt
pātakaṁ vā sadoṣaṁ vā kartavyaṁ rakṣatā satām
nṛśaṁsam = whether it is cruel; anṛśaṁsam vā = or not; prajā-rakṣaṇa-kāraṇāt = and for the protection of the citizens; pātakam vā = whether it causes others to fall; sadoṣam vā = whether it is reproached; kartavyam = [a prince] is dutybound to carry out his duty; rakṣatā = while protecting; satām = the saints.
[A prince] is dutybound, while protecting the saints and for the protection of the citizens, to carry out his duty whether it is cruel or not, whether it causes others to fall or whether it is reproached.