Sutra 18

Devanagari script

गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं लघुसमुत्थमल्पं वेति गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं प्रतापकरं भवति यदा चोत्तिष्ठते तदा कार्यं साधयति इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०७.९.१८ ॥

Transliteration

gurusamutthaṃ mahan mitraṃ laghusamuttham alpam veti gurusamutthaṃ mahan mitraṃ pratāpakaraṃ bhavati yadā cottiṣṭhate tadā kāryaṃ sādhayati ity ācāryāḥ

Translation

‘बलवान आधारातून उभा राहिलेला महान मित्र’ किंवा ‘दुर्बल आधारातून उभा राहिलेला लहान मित्र’—आचार्य म्हणतात: बलवान आधारातून उत्पन्न महान मित्र प्रताप व प्रतिष्ठा वाढवतो; आणि जेव्हा तो कृतीस उठतो, तेव्हा कार्य साध्य करतो.

Word by Word

गुरु-समुत्थम्arisen from (the support of) a superior/powerful source

महत्-मित्रम्a great/powerful ally

लघु-समुत्थम्arisen from a lesser/weaker source

अल्पम्small/insignificant

वाor

इतिthus

गुरु-समुत्थम्arisen from a superior source

महत्-मित्रम्a great ally

प्रताप-करम्power-enhancing; producing prestige/strength

भवतिbecomes/is

यदाwhen

चand

उत्तिष्ठतेrises/sets out; becomes active

तदाthen

कार्यम्the task/objective

साधयतिaccomplishes; brings to success

इतिthus

आचार्याःthe teachers/authorities (say)

Entities Mentioned

great ally

small ally

teachers (ācāryāḥ)

FAQs

What is being evaluated: size of ally or the ally’s base of power?

Both, but the decisive factor is whether the ally’s strength is rooted in a strong base that can mobilize effectively and deliver outcomes.