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, "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" (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 hungry, 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) |
