ਰਾਜੇ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਰਥਾਏ ॥
raajay Dharam karahi parthaa-ay.
The kings acted righteously only out of self-interest.
ਆਸਾ ਬੰਧੇ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰਾਏ ॥
aasaa banDhay daan karaa-ay.
Tied to hopes of reward, they gave to charities.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ਥਾਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੯॥
raam naam bin mukat na ho-ee thaakay karam kamaa-ee hay. ||9||
Without the Lord's Name, liberation did not come, although they grew weary of performing rituals. ||9||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some who had power did good deeds mostly to get something back.
Their giving was tied to hopes of a prize.
Freedom comes through the Naam; deed after deed only left them tired.
A gift given only to get something back is not quite a gift.
Kings did right for their own gain, and every gift came tied to a hope. The trouble lies in the motive. Giving tied to a reward stays heavy; raam naam, the Naam, is what sets a person free.
A Question to Sit With
What is the difference between helping to get a reward and helping just to help?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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