On Guru Granth Sahib: Who is a thief?

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

जे मोहाका घरु मुहै घरु मुहि पितरी देइ ॥ Je mohākā gẖar muhai gẖar muhi piṯrī ḏee.The thief robs a house, and offers the stolen goods to his ancestors.

अगै वसतु सिञाणीऐ पितरी चोर करेइ ॥ Agai vasaṯ siñāṇīai piṯrī cẖor karei.In the world hereafter, this is recognized, and his ancestors are considered thieves as well.

वढीअहि हथ दलाल के मुसफी एह करेइ ॥ vadẖīah hath ḏalāl ke musfī eh karei.The hands of the go-between are cut off; this is the Lord’s justice.

~Asa di Vaar (Guru Granth Sahib, Page 472)

Question: Dear Acharya Ji Pranaam! In these verses I find it difficult to understand that why it is being said that hands of the go-between are cut-off by the Lord? ‘Go-between’ as the negotiator.

I feel connected with this word simply because I have myself used this skill many a times while operating in the world. I have used this skill to bridge the communication gap, establish peace, fairness, transparency, justice among people. I think of several noble purposes to use this skill for. I have never found anything wrong in it.

Kindly help me understand the totality as the negotiator, because my eyes cannot see any evil here, as I don’t use this skill unless I feel the pull to help in a situation.

Forever grateful for your blessings and guidance.

Acharya Prashant Ji: It’s an intriguing and a beautiful verse. We must understand this.

Who is the thief? The mind. What does the mind live in, feel related with, deal with, find itself surrounded with? The world. Who are these ancestors being talked of? The Source of the mind — the place that the mind thinks itself coming from.

Now what does the mind do? Mind picks up ideas from the world and devotes those ideas to it’s Source. Understand this.