Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Harichand was a king who ruled his whole land, yet he did not see the worth of what was written for his life.
If he had known it was a mistake, he would not have made such a show of his giving, and he would not have been sold in the market.
Even doing good can go wrong when we do it to be seen.
This verse tells of King Harichand. He was a famous ruler who gave a great deal to charity. Kaagad keem na paa-ee: he did not understand the worth of what was written for his life. He made a big show of his giving. The story says he was even sold in the market, a great fall for a king.
If he had known it was a mistake, he would have acted differently. That ties back to the pause line: in that moment, he could not see clearly. Think of helping a classmate only when the teacher is watching. The help is real, but the heart is looking the wrong way. Giving for show is a kind of not-seeing.
What's the difference between doing something kind and doing it so others will notice?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI