Never beg from others
For a true Sikh who walks on the path of Dharam (righteousness), it is not permitted to wander around begging from others; the Guru tells us: "Those who walk in the Will of the True Guru, never wander begging (2)" (SGGS p 729). The only begging should be from the Almighty Lord; Gurbani confirms, "" (SGGS p 590).
Further, if any wandering ascetic or recluse goes around begging, the Guru tells us not "to touch his or her feet" ie: do not entertain them. It may be fine to provide them with a little food if they seem hunger, but do not accept any spiritual advice from them or consider them as your spiritual guide.
Gurbani
ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੰਗੀਝ ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਪਾਈਝ ॥ ਜੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸਹ ਮੰਗੀਝ ਤਾ ਲਾਜ ਮਰਾਈਝ ॥ |
Har iko ḝĝṯĝ mangī▫ai man cẖinḝi▫ĝ pĝ▫ī▫ai. Je ḝūje pĝshu mangī▫ai ṯĝ lĝj marĝ▫ī▫ai. |
Beg from the One Lord, the Great Giver, and you shall obtain your heart's desires.
But if you beg from another, then you shall be shamed and destroyed. |
ਮੰਨੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਵਹਿ ਨ ਭਿਖ ॥ मंनै नानक भवहि न भिख ॥ |
Mannai Nĝnak bẖavahi na bẖikẖ. |
The faithful, O Nanak, do not wander around begging. |
ਚਾਲਹਿ ਸਤਿਗਰ ਭਾਇ ਭਵਹਿ ਨ ਭੀਖਿਆ ॥੨॥ चालहि सतिगढ़र भाइ भवहि न भीखिआ ॥२॥ |
Cẖĝlėh saṯgur bẖĝ▫e bẖavėh na bẖīkẖi▫ĝ.(2) |
Those who walk in the Will of the True Guru, never wander begging.(2) |
ਜੇ ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਹੰਢੈ ਮੰਗਦਾ ਧਿਗ ਜੀਵਣ ਧਿਗ ਵੇਸ ॥ जे घरि घरि हंढै मंगदा धिगढ़ जीवणढ़ धिगढ़ वेसढ़ ॥ |
Je gẖar gẖar handẖai mangḝĝ ḝẖig jīvaṇ ḝẖig ves. |
Cursed is the life, and cursed are the clothes, of one who wanders around, begging from door to door. |
ਗਰ ਪੀਰ ਸਦਾਝ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਝ ਪਾਇ ॥ |
Gur pīr saḝĝ▫e mangaṇ jĝ▫e. Ŧĝ kai mūl na lagī▫ai pĝ▫e. |
One who calls himself a guru or a spiritual teacher, while he goes around begging - don't ever touch his feet. |
ਸਣੇ ਦੇਖੇ ਬਾਝ ਕਹਿਝ ਦਾਨ ਅਣਮੰਗਿਆ ਦਿਵੈ ॥ ਦਾਨ ਦੇਇ ਦਾਤਾ ਜਗਿ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚ ਸੋਈ ॥ |
Suṇe ḝekẖe bĝjẖ kahi▫ai ḝĝn aṇmangi▫ĝ ḝivai. Ḏĝn ḝe▫e ḝĝṯĝ jag biḝẖĝṯĝ nĝnkĝ sacẖ so▫ī. |
He sees, He hears, and without our asking, without our begging, He gives His gifts.
The Great Giver, the Architect of the Universe, gives His gifts. O Nanak, He is the True Lord. |
ਛਾਦਨ ਭੋਜਨ ਮਾਗਤ ਭਾਗੈ ॥ ਖਧਿਆ ਦਸਟ ਜਲੈ ਦਖ ਆਗੈ ॥ ਗਰਮਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਲੀਨੀ ਦਰਮਤਿ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਈ ॥ ਗਰਮਤਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੧॥ |
Cẖẖĝḝan bẖojan mĝgaṯ bẖĝgai. Kẖuḝẖi▫ĝ ḝusat jalai ḝukẖ ĝgai. Gurmaṯ nahī līnī ḝurmaṯ paṯ kẖo▫ī. Gurmaṯ bẖagaṯ pĝvai jan ko▫ī.(1) |
He runs around, begging for clothes and food.
He burns with hunger and corruption, and will suffer in the world hereafter. He does not follow the Guru's Teachings; through his evil-mindedness, he loses his honor. Only through the Guru's Teachings will such a person become devoted.(1) |