पितृपैतामहं नित्यं वश्यमद्वैध्यं महल्लघुसमुत्थमिति मित्रसम्पत् ॥ कZ_०६.१.१२ ॥
pitṛpaitāmahaṃ nityaṃ vaśyam advaidhyaṃ mahallaghusamuttham iti mitrasampat
盟友的资产(优势)如下:由父祖相传的(久远的)盟约,持久稳固,易于影响与驾驭,不怀二心,并且源自强国或弱国。
An ally is valuable when the relationship is long-standing, stable, influenceable, consistent (not double-minded), and can arise from either a major or minor power.
Because usefulness depends on reliability and alignment, not only size; even a smaller ally can be strategically significant if dependable and manageable.