ਨਿਫਲ (niphal)
Meaning: noun: fruitless, futile.
Quote:
ਪਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਨਹੀ ਛੂਟੀ ਨਿਫਲ ਭਈ ਸਭ ਸੇਵਾ॥
par niňdaa mukh te nahee chhooṭee niphal bha-ee sabh sevaa.
(O man! Even after listening to scriptures) your mouth has not stopped slandering others, and thus all your worship service has gone fruitless. – Bhagat Parmanand, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1253
Message: Speech is one of the most difficult aspects of life to control. How many of us can honestly say that we have never said something unpleasant about someone else and then later realized that we should not have. The remarks cannot be retracted and consequences follow. Backbiting, slander and gossip are fruitless, futile actions. They create enmity and discord. Of what use is devotion to the Divine if we are unable to respect and be kind to His creation. With anger and greed and cruelty in us, how can we be of service to others? Whatever we do will remain fruitless. Join the company of the wise. Follow their wisdom and reflect on one’s daily actions.
Slander slays three persons: the speaker, the spoken to, and the spoken of. – A Hebrew proverb
Keen to Explore Further?
Etymology:ni (prefix) + phal, from Sanskrit phal (fruit).
