पुरुषभोगं हिरण्यभोगं वा मित्रमिति पुरुषभोगं मित्रं श्रेयः प्रुषभोगं मित्रं प्रतापकरं भवति यदा चोत्तिष्ठते तदा कार्यं साधयति इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.९.२६ ॥
puruṣabhogaṃ hiraṇyabhogaṃ vā mitram iti puruṣabhogaṃ mitraṃ śreyaḥ pruṣabhogaṃ mitraṃ pratāpakaraṃ bhavati yadā cottiṣṭhate tadā kāryaṃ sādhayati ity ācāryāḥ
‘An ally providing manpower’ or ‘an ally providing gold’—an ally providing manpower is preferable. The teachers say: a manpower-providing ally generates power and prestige; when it rises to action, it accomplishes the task.
Because troops translate directly into deployable capability and deterrent prestige; money may fund war, but manpower delivers immediate operational effect.