If the king becomes mild, the people disrespect him. If he becomes stern, the people afflicted. The rule is that he should be stern when sternness is necessary, and mild when mildness is necessary.
मृदुरित्यवजानन्ति जीक्ष्ण इत्युद्विजन्ति च। तीक्ष्णकाले भवेत् तीक्ष्णो मृदुकाले मृदुर्भवेत्॥