ਹਰੀਚੰਦੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੈ ਜਸੁ ਲੇਵੈ ॥
hareechand daan karai jas layvai.
Hari Chand gave in charity, and earned public praise.
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇ ਅਭੇਵੈ ॥
bin gur ant na paa-ay abhayvai.
But without the Guru, he did not find the limits of the Mysterious Lord.
ਆਪਿ ਭੁਲਾਇ ਆਪੇ ਮਤਿ ਦੇਵੈ ॥੩॥
aap bhulaa-ay aapay mat dayvai. ||3||
The Lord Himself misleads people, and He Himself imparts understanding. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Another old story tells of Harichand, famous for his giving, praised by everyone. Yet without the teaching he never touched the deeper mystery. The truth is, understanding itself is a gift — it comes when the One opens our eyes.
Even famous goodness misses the deeper mystery without the teaching — and understanding is a gift.
Harichand (Harishchandra), the legendarily truthful, charitable king. Even his fame did not reach abhayvaa, the mystery, without the Guru. Aap bhulaa-ay aapay mat dayvai — the One both lets us wander and grants understanding; we frame this as understanding-as-gift, not divine trickery, consistent with grace.
A Question to Sit With
Can you do a good thing and still miss why it matters? What would help you see?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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