ਜਦੋਂ ਚੋਰ ਆਇਆ, ਭਿਖਸ਼ੂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ — ਲੈ ਜਾ ਜੋ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ। A Punjabi spiritual story about fearlessness and forgiveness — listen free on Radio Haanji Kitaab Kahani.
Voice: Ranjodh Singh | Genre: ਰੂਹਾਨੀ / ਬੋਧ ਕਥਾ (Spiritual Story) | Format: Punjabi Audio Story | Series: Kitaab Kahani
When a Thief Meets a Monk Who Has Already Given Everything Away
What happens when a man arrives in the dark of night — knife in hand, ready to steal — and the person he has come to rob simply… is not afraid? In this ancient Zen story from Japan, monk Shijiri does not fight, does not flee, and does not beg for mercy. He calmly points to the corner of the room and says: take what you need. What follows is one of the most quietly powerful moments in all of Punjabi storytelling.
About the Story
The story is set in Japan, where a Zen monk named Shijiri has been living for years in a small hut — bare and simple. His devoted followers, moved by his years of exposed living through rain and storm, have pooled together a large sum of gold coins as a donation. Their dream is to finally build him a proper temple. Word of this generosity has spread, and it reaches the wrong ears.
A local thief, knowing the monk now has gold in his possession, slips into the hut in the dead of night. He presses his knife against Shijiri's throat and demands the coins. But Shijiri's response stops the thief cold. There is no panic, no pleading — just an almost eerie stillness. He speaks to the thief not as a victim, but as a host speaking to a guest who has come a long way for something very reasonable.
What follows — in the hut, then in the royal court, and in the years that come after — is a lesson about the kind of fearlessness that cannot be faked. It is a story about what happens when someone sees the spark of goodness in a person who believes they have none. Narrated by Ranjodh Singh on Kitaab Kahani, this story from the Zen tradition speaks directly to the Punjabi value of nobility of character — and how true inner peace can change another person's entire life.
ਕਹਾਣੀ ਝਲਕ
ਤੂੰ ਇੰਨਾ ਕਸ਼ਟ ਕਿਉਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ? ਤੂੰ ਇਹ ਪਾਪ ਕਿਉਂ ਕਰਨਾ? ਤੈਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਰੂਰਤ ਹੈ, ਰੱਬ ਨੇ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਘੱਲਿਆ, ਤੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਤੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋਏ ਨੇ।
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਰੱਬ ਦੇ ਜੀਅ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਲੱਗਦੇ ਨੇ। ਇਹਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਉਹੀ ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਰੂਹ ਹੈ।
ਜੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਸੱਚਾਈ ਹੋਵੇ ਤੇ ਉਹਦੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸੁਣ ਲਓ ਤੇ ਸੱਚ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੰਨੀ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਤਾਕਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਰੰਗ ਪੱਕਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ। ਅਗਲੇ ਦੇ ਕੱਚੇ ਰੰਗ ਦੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਰੰਗ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
Listen to the full story on Radio Haanji Kitaab Kahani.
![Ad Banner]()
![Ad Banner]()
![Ad Banner]()
![Ad Banner]()
The Message of the Story
Shijiri's story carries a message that is rare and radical: the most powerful thing you can do when someone wrongs you is not to punish them — it is to see the good in them before they can see it in themselves. The monk does not lecture the thief. He does not shame him. He simply treats him with the dignity of a man who has come for something he genuinely needed.
By the time the thief leaves the hut, something has already broken open inside him. And when Shijiri later refuses to testify against the thief in court — not out of weakness, but out of a deep and unshakeable conviction — the thief's transformation becomes permanent. He gives up his old life entirely and spends the rest of his days at the monk's side.
Ranjodh Singh draws out the story's deeper truth beautifully: if your own character is solid — if your colour is fast — it will naturally transfer to those around you. But if you are hollow inside, pretending goodness only in words, then the reverse happens. Others colour you. The story is ultimately a call to inner work — to become the kind of person whose presence alone creates change.
About Kitaab Kahani
Kitaab Kahani is Radio Haanji 1674 AM's daily Punjabi audio story series. Every weekday, a new story — motivational, emotional, moral, spiritual, or philosophical — is narrated in Punjabi and published free on all major podcast platforms. The series is made for the Punjabi diaspora across Australia, Singapore and worldwide, bringing the richness of Punjabi storytelling into the daily lives of listeners wherever they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shijiri in this Kitaab Kahani story?
Shijiri is a Zen monk from Japan who is the central character in this story. He has lived for years in a simple hut and his devoted followers have collected a large sum of gold coins to help build him a temple. His extraordinary inner stillness and fearlessness are what drive the entire narrative and ultimately transform the thief who comes to rob him.
What is the main lesson of this Punjabi audio story?
The story teaches that genuine fearlessness and compassion are more powerful than anger or punishment. When we truly see the humanity — the divine spark — in another person, even one who is acting wrongly, our response changes. And that changed response has the power to change them entirely. The monk's ability to find good even in a thief is what wins the thief's heart forever.
What is Kitaab Kahani on Radio Haanji?
Kitaab Kahani is Radio Haanji 1674 AM's daily Punjabi audio story series, narrated by various hosts including Ranjodh Singh. New stories are released every weekday across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Radio Haanji app. The series covers motivational, emotional, moral, spiritual and philosophical stories for the Punjabi diaspora in Australia, Singapore and worldwide.
Where can I listen to Kitaab Kahani for free?
Kitaab Kahani is available free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the Radio Haanji iOS app, and the Radio Haanji Android app. New episodes are published every weekday. You can also visit haanji.com.au to read full show notes and story articles alongside each audio episode. No subscription is needed to listen on any platform.
Listen Now — Free on All Platforms
????️ Narrated by Ranjodh Singh on Kitaab Kahani — Radio Haanji 1674 AM
Radio Haanji 1674 AM is Austalia's Punjabi community radio station.
Listen free at haanji.com.au | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iOS App | Android App
Serving the Punjabi community in Australia, Canada, Singapore and world wide.
What's Your Reaction?
