Sutra 18
Devanagari script
मित्रादात्मवृद्धिं हि प्राप्नोति क्षयव्ययप्रवासपरोपकारानितरः ॥ कZ_०७.८.१८ ॥
Transliteration
mitrād ātmavṛddhiṃ hi prāpnoti kṣayavyaya-pravāsa-paropakārān itaraḥ
Translation
From a friend one indeed obtains one’s own advancement; whereas the other (i.e., a non-friend) brings ruin, expenditure, exile/displacement, and ‘help’ that serves others’ interests.
Word by Word
मित्रात्from a friend/ally
मित्रात्:
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन (अपादान)
आत्मवृद्धिम्one’s own increase/prosperity
आत्मवृद्धिम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्धि
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; समासः—आत्मनः वृद्धिः
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeParticle
Rootहि
Formनिपात (हेतौ/निश्चये)
प्राप्नोतिattains/obtains
प्राप्नोति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र+आप्
Formलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन
क्षयloss/decline
क्षय:
TypeNoun
Rootक्षय
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)
व्ययexpenditure
व्यय:
TypeNoun
Rootव्यय
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)
प्रवासbeing away/sojourn
प्रवास:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रवास
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)
परोपकारात्from helping another / from benefaction to others
परोपकारात्:
TypeNoun
Rootपरोपकार
Formपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन (अपादान); समासः—परस्य उपकारः
अनितरःno one else (but he)/none other
अनितरः:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootअनितर
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मित्र-सम्बद्धः)
Entities Mentioned
M
mitra (ally/friend)FAQs
Alliances should be evaluated by measurable state-gain (power, revenue, security), not by sentiment; a friend is defined by net positive strategic outcomes.
As a bundle of strategic negatives: depletion (kṣaya), fiscal drain (vyaya), strategic displacement (pravāsa), and ‘assistance’ that primarily benefits others (paropakāra).