दण्डमित्रव्यसनयोर्मित्रव्यसनमिति वातव्याधिः ॥ कZ_०८.१.५३ ॥
daṇḍa-mitra-vyasanayor mitra-vyasanam iti vātavyādhiḥ
ଦଣ୍ଡ (ଦମନଶକ୍ତି) ଓ ମିତ୍ର—ଏହି ଦୁଇ ବିପତ୍ତି ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମିତ୍ରବିପତ୍ତି ଅଧିକ ଗୁରୁତର—ଏହା ‘ବାତବ୍ୟାଧି’ ମତ।
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.