Great prosperity attends upon that king who knoweth how to inspire confidence in others, who inflicteth punishment on those whose guilt hath been proved, who is acquainted with the proper measure of punishment, and who knoweth when mercy is to be shown. He is a wise person who doth not disregard even a weak foe; who proceeds with intelligence in respect of a foe, anxiously watching for an opportunity; who doth not desire hostilities with persons stronger than himself; and who displayeth his prowess in season.

In plain words: Vidura says a king does well when he earns people's trust, punishes only those proven guilty, knows how much punishment is right, and knows when to show mercy. A wise person never ignores even a weak enemy, waits carefully for the right moment, avoids fighting those stronger than him, and shows his strength at the right time.