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

गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं लघुसमुत्थमल्पं वेति। गुरुसमुत्थं महन्मित्रं प्रतापकरं भवति; यदा चोत्तिष्ठते तदा कार्यं साधयति—इत्याचार्याः।

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.