Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥२२॥
adeśa-kāle yad dānam
apātrebhyaś ca dīyate
asat-kṛtam avajñātaṁ
tat tāmasam udāhṛtam
Word for word (synonyms)
- adesa
- unpurified place
- kāle
- unpurified time
- yat
- that which is
- dānam
- charity
- apātrebhyaḥ
- to unworthy persons
- ca
- also
- dīyate
- is given
- asatkṛtam
- without respect
- avajñātam
- without proper attention
- tat
- that
- tāmasam
- in the mode of darkness
- udāhṛtam
- is said to be
Translation
And charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance.
Defined in the Gītā
Charity
What is charity in goodness?
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.
Purport
Contributions for indulgence in intoxication and gambling are not encouraged here. That sort of contribution is in the mode of ignorance. Such charity is not beneficial; rather, sinful persons are encouraged. Similarly, if a person gives charity to a suitable person without respect and without attention, that sort of charity is also said to be in the mode of darkness.
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.