यावदुपकरोति तावन्मित्रं भवति उपकारलक्षणं मित्रमिति ॥ कZ_०७.९.१२ ॥
yāvad upakaroti tāvan mitraṃ bhavati upakāralakṣaṇaṃ mitram iti
On ne demeure ami que tant qu’on apporte de l’aide ; l’amitié se définit par un service bénéfique.
Alliances should be evaluated by deliverables—aid, resources, restraint—not by sentiment; when assistance stops, the relationship must be renegotiated or replaced.