Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥२०॥
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ
dīyate 'nupakāriṇe
deśe kāle ca pātre ca
tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam
Word for word (synonyms)
- dātavyam
- worth giving
- iti
- thus
- yat
- that which
- dānam
- charity
- dīyate
- given
- anupakāriṇe
- to any person irrespective of doing good
- dese
- in place
- kāle
- in time
- ca
- also
- pātre
- suitable person
- ca
- and
- tat
- that
- dānam
- charity
- sāttvikam
- in the mode of goodness
- smṛtam
- consider
Translation
That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.
Defined in the Gītā
Charity
Purport
In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a consideration. Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place of pilgrimage and at lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the month or to a qualified brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava (devotee) or in temples. Such charities should be given without any consideration of return. Charity to the poor is sometimes given out of compassion, but if a poor man is not worth giving charity to, then there is no spiritual advancement. In other words, indiscriminate charity is not recommended in the Vedic literature.
What this verse teaches
The study note for this verse is in editorial review.
- Section
- Charity in three modes
| Goodness | Passion | Ignorance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity | given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return 17.20 | performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood 17.21 | performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt 17.22 |
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.