NIRARTHAKAH-निरर्थकः- FUTILE, USELESS

 SUBHASHITHANI:282

Planning without action is futile, action without planning is fatal”-Anon

अवशेन्द्रियचित्तानां हस्तिस्नानमिव क्रिया ।
दुर्भगाभरणप्रायो ज्ञानं भारः क्रियां विना ॥१.१८॥
Avasendriya chittaanaam hasti snaanamiva kriyaa I Durbhaga bharana praayo gyanam bhaarah kriya vinaa II -Hitopadesa
The actions of those, whose senses and mind are not under control ,or like the bath of an elephant: Knowledge without action is a burden, like nurturing ill-natured woman or ornaments on an ugly person.

शुन्नः पुच्छमिव व्यर्थं जीवितं विद्यया बिना  |
न गुह्यगोपने शक्तं न च दंश निवारणे II
Shunnh pucchamiva vyarthm jeevitm vidyayaa binaa.
Na guhyagopane shaktm na dmsha nivaarane.
Living a life without being a learned person is futile ,  like being the tail of a dog, which is neither capable to cover its genitals nor able to ward off stinging flies.

प्रसादो निष्फलो यस्य क्रोधश्चापि निरर्थकः |
न तं भर्तारमिच्छन्ति षण्डं पतिमिव स्त्रियः ||Mahabharatham
Prasaado nishphalo yasya krodaschaapi nirarthakah I
Na tam bhartaaram ichchanti shandam patimiva striyah II
A person is to be considered useless if his being pleased does not help you, or his wrath is not potent enough. He is as useless as an impotent husband for a wife. No one will want to serve such a master.

अनारभ्या भवन्त्यर्थाः केचित्रित्यं तथाऽगताः ।
कृतः पुरुषकारो हि भवेद् येषु निरर्थकः ॥Vidura niti
Some acts are of a nature that should not be ventured at all and some are beyond accomplishment. These are not worth even a try. Human effort is wasted in trying to perform such tasks. 

अपभुक्तं यथा वासस्स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा।
एवं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टस्समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः।। Surpanaka to Ravana
Like a piece of cloth that is worn and discarded, like garlands put on and crushed, a king dislodged from the kingdom is worthless even if he is capable.

 शुभे वर्त्मनि तिष्ठन्तं तवाम आर्यविजितेन्द्रियम I
  अनर्थेभ्यॊ न शक्नॊति तरातुं धर्मॊ निरर्थकः IILakshmana to Rama
 śubhe vartmani tiṣṭhantaṃ tvām āryavijitendriyam
 anarthebhyo na śaknoti trātuṃ dharmo nirarthakaḥ
“Just because you tread a noble path and have subdued the senses, (mere adherence to) dharma cannot protect you from adversities; such dharma is futile..” 

( Lakshmana's purpose is to cheer up Rama and not to decry Dharma )

यस्मादर्था विवर्धन्ते येष्वधर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः ।
क्लिश्यन्ते धर्मशीलाश्च तस्मादेतौ निरर्थकौ ॥ Lakshmana to Rama
Those who are unrighteous prosper( like Ravana) ,while those following  righteousness suffer ( like Rama); hence it is inexplicable  to comprehend the ways of vice and virtue. ( In order to reflect the spirit of the sloka , I have preferred to translate ‘Nirartakah- as inexplicable rather  than literal meaning futile. )

Similar sentiments have been expressed in Thirukural :
அவ்விய நெஞ்சத்தான் ஆக்கமும் செவ்வியான்
கேடும் நினைக்கப் படும். Thirukural-169
The wealth of a man of envious mind and the poverty of the righteous will be pondered.

व्याधितॆन स-शॊकॆन चिंता-ग्रस्तॆन जंतुना।
कामार्तॆनाथ मत्तॆन द्ड़्ष्टः स्वप्नॊ निरर्थकः॥पञ्च_५.११॥
The dreams seen by people who are diseased, sad, worried, lustful and intoxicated
are meaningless.”- Pancha tantra
त्वयि प्रसन्ने मम किं गुणेन’
त्वय्यप्रसन्ने मम किं गुणेन।
रक्ते विरक्ते च वरे वधूनां
निरर्थकः कुङ्कुमपत्रभंगः ॥२.९९॥Sri Krishna Karnamrutam
O Lord! when you are pleased what is the use of good qualities in me? If you are not pleased, then also what is the use of good qualities in me? If the groom loves her,  the bride need not adorn herself with kumkumapatra. If he does not love her, then also the kumkumapatra  is useless.
विचित्रे खलु संसारे नास्ति किञ्चिन्निरर्थकम् ।
अश्वश्चेद् धावने वीरः भारस्य वहने खरः ।।
Vichitre khalu samsaare naasti kimchit nirartakam I
Asvascet dhaavane veerah bharasya vahane kharah II
In this wonderful world there is nothing that is useless; If horse is known for its speed, a donkey is good for carrying load.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH