Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 33: Śūrpaṇakhā Criticizes Rāvaṇa
Text 3.33.19
उपभुक्तं यथा वासः स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा।
एवं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टः समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः॥
upabhuktaṁ yathā vāsaḥ srajo vā mṛditā yathā
evaṁ rājyāt paribhraṣṭaḥ samartho ’pi nirarthakaḥ
upabhuktam = used; yathā = is like; vāsaḥ = cloth; srajaḥ = garlands; vā = or; mṛditāḥ yathā = crushed; evam rājyāt = his kingdom; paribhraṣṭaḥ = one who has lost; samarthaḥ = he is qualified; api = even though; nirarthakaḥ = he will be useless.
One who has lost his kingdom is like used cloth or crushed garlands. Even though he is qualified, he will be useless.
The example of used cloth and crushed garlands has been provided to point out that they are unfit to be used by others.