The king by treating his people mercifully is called their father. The subject who plays him false, is born in his next life as an animal or a bird.
पिता हि राजा राष्ट्रस्य प्रजाना योऽनुकम्पनः। तस्मिन् मिथ्याविनीतो हि तिर्यग् गच्छति मानवः।।१०४