Sutra 12
Devanagari script
पितृपैतामहं नित्यं वश्यमद्वैध्यं महल्लघुसमुत्थमिति मित्रसम्पत् ॥ कZ_०६.१.१२ ॥
Transliteration
pitṛpaitāmahaṃ nityaṃ vaśyam advaidhyaṃ mahallaghusamuttham iti mitrasampat
Translation
The assets of an ally are these: an alliance inherited from the father and grandfather (long-standing), enduring, amenable to influence, not double-minded, and arising from either a great power or a minor power.
Word by Word
पितृपैतामहम्hereditary (from father and grandfather) [friendship/ally]
पितृपैतामहम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ/पैतामह
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (पितृ + पैतामह)
नित्यम्always; permanent
नित्यम्:
TypeAdjective/Adverb
Rootनित्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘always/constantly’
वश्यम्tractable; controllable
वश्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवश्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘वशे भवति’ इति
अद्वैध्यम्not double-dealing; free from duplicity
अद्वैध्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वैध्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; अ- (नञ्) + द्वैध्य (double-dealing/duplicity)
महत्-लघु-समुत्थम्arising from a great (power) or a small (power)
महत्-लघु-समुत्थम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्/लघु/समुत्थ
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; महत् + लघु + समुत्थ (समुत्थ = ‘arising from’)
इतिthus; as follows
इति:
TypeParticle
Rootइति
Formनिपातः; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थकः
मित्रसम्पत्the asset/advantage of allies (ally-wealth)
मित्रसम्पत्:
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र/सम्पद्
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; मित्रस्य सम्पत् (सम्पद् = संपत्ति/समृद्धि/सम्पन्नता)
Entities Mentioned
M
mitra (ally)FAQs
An ally is valuable when the relationship is long-standing, stable, influenceable, consistent (not double-minded), and can arise from either a major or minor power.
Because usefulness depends on reliability and alignment, not only size; even a smaller ally can be strategically significant if dependable and manageable.