गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं लघुसमुत्थमल्पं वेति गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं प्रतापकरं भवति यदा चोत्तिष्ठते तदा कार्यं साधयति इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.९.१८ ॥
gurusamutthaṃ mahan mitraṃ laghusamuttham alpam veti gurusamutthaṃ mahan mitraṃ pratāpakaraṃ bhavati yadā cottiṣṭhate tadā kāryaṃ sādhayati ity ācāryāḥ
“A great ally raised from a powerful base” or “a small ally raised from a weak base”—the teachers say: the great ally arising from a strong base generates power and prestige; when it rises to action, it accomplishes the task.
Both, but the decisive factor is whether the ally’s strength is rooted in a strong base that can mobilize effectively and deliver outcomes.