Sanskrit Wisdom - 33

ekam visharasam hanti shastrenaikashcha vadhyate |

sarashtram saprajam hanti raajaanam mantraviplavah ||

ekM ivaYarsaM hint Sas~oNaOkSca vaQyato a
saraYT/M sap`jaM hint rajaanaM maM~ivaPlava: aa

Explanation

Poison kills but one person at a time while a weapon can destroy many more. Incorrect decisions by the king or by his ministers, by contrast, can destroy the entire nation and its citizens.