A famous saying on punishments is that -

'सर्वो दण्डजितो लोको दुर्लभो हि शुचिः क्वचित्।
दण्डस्य हि भयात् कृत्स्नं जगत् भोगाय कल्पते॥'

'People who are good, nice, and righteous by themselves are very rare.
The world is in order; order is maintained in the world by the fear of punishment.
It is due to the fear of punishment that people get to enjoy what is due to them.
This applies not only to men.'

'देवदानवगन्धर्वा रक्षांसि पतगोरगाः।
तेऽपि भोगाय कल्पन्ते दण्डेनैव निपीडिताः॥'

'Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, birds, reptiles, they all are engaged in their own functions properly because of the fear of punishment.'

'भीषास्माद्वातः पवते भीषादेति सूर्यः।
भीषास्मादग्निश्चेन्द्रश्च मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चमः॥'

'Says Taittiriya Upanishad.
It is in fear of him, fear of him as the ruler/commander that the sun lights up, wind blows, fire burns, Indra causes rains, and Mrutyu takes away lives. They all function under his command only. They all function because of fear of him as the universal ruler/commander.
So even the sun, wind, they all function under fear, fear that if they don’t function as ordained, they will be punished.'

'Punishment is called danda. Tasya neetihi dandaneetihi. The science of punishment is called dandaneeithi. How to punish, that is dandaneetithi.'

'दण्डनीतिः अलब्धलाभार्था लब्धपरिरक्षणी रक्षितविवर्धनी।
Dandaneeti is a means to make acquisitions, to get one what is rightfully due to him. To protect assets and to improve upon them, to increase them.
Acquisition of assets, their protection, their increase.
And also to make these assets available for righteous utilization.'

'तस्यामायत्ता लोकयात्रा।
Worldly progress depends on dandaneeti, how well dandaneeti is implemented.'

'तस्माल्लोकयात्रार्थी नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यात्।
So the principle of governance by the fear of punishment should be upheld if the ruler is desirous of the progress of his kingdom.'

'नह्येवंविधं वशोपनयनमस्ति भूतानां यथा दण्ड इत्याचार्याः।
Acharyas say that there is no better method to control people than the fear of punishment.'

'नेति कौटिल्यः – No, says Chanakya, Kautilya.
तीक्ष्णदण्डो हि भूतानामुद्वेजनीयः। – The ruler who metes out severe punishment is hated; he becomes repulsive.
मृदुदण्डः परिभूयते। – The ruler whose punishments are mild is not taken seriously.
यथार्हदण्डः पूज्यः। – The ruler whose punishment is balanced, as is necessary, as someone deserves – he is respected.'

'सुविज्ञातप्रणीतो हि दण्डः प्रजा धर्मार्थकामैर्योजयति।
When punishment is given with due consideration, thoughtfully, as much is necessary, as much only as is necessary then that makes people righteous.'

'दुष्प्रणीतः कामक्रोधाभ्याम् अज्ञानात् वानप्रस्थपरिव्राजकानपि कोपयति।
Punishment, when meted out to satisfy anger, out of anger, or with any other motive, to achieve some other motive, will cause agitation even among ascetics, sanyasis - then what to speak of normal householders?'

'अप्रणीतो हि मात्स्यन्यायमुद्भावयति।
If the wicked are not punished properly and in time, it will create matsya nyaya, a situation where the big fish eat the small fish.
Where might becomes right, the strong and powerful take advantage of the weak.
This is not desirable.'

'बलीयानवल्ं हि ग्रसते दण्डधराभावे।
The ruler is the protector of the weak. It is his duty to protect the weak. The weak can resist the strong and progress only under the protection of the ruler and the fear that he instills in the strong.'