दण्डमित्रव्यसनयोर्मित्रव्यसनमिति वातव्याधिः ॥ कZ_०८.१.५३ ॥
daṇḍa-mitra-vyasanayor mitra-vyasanam iti vātavyādhiḥ
Di antara bencana pada kekuatan pemaksa (daṇḍa) dan bencana pada sekutu (mitra), bencana pada sekutu dianggap lebih berat—demikian pandangan ‘Vātavyādhi’.
Which is worse: weakening of coercive power (daṇḍa) or weakening/loss of allies (mitra).
Allies provide strategic depth, resources, and coordinated pressure on enemies; their loss can cascade into isolation and multi-front vulnerability.