दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे | देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ||१७-२०||
dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate.anupakāriṇe .
deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||17-20||
That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a fit place and time to a worthy person, that gift is held to be Sattvic.
In simple words
Krishna describes pure giving: "A gift given to a worthy person, at the right place and time, simply because giving is the right thing to do, with no expectation of anything back — that is a pure gift."
दातव्यम्ought to be givenइतिthusयत्thatदानम्giftदीयतेis givenअनुपकारिणेto one who does no service (in return)देशेin a fit placeकालेin timeचandपात्रेto a worthy personचandतत्thatदानम्giftसात्त्विकम्Sattvic
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स्मृतम्is held to be
17.20 दातव्यम् ought to be given? इति thus? यत् that? दानम् gift? दीयते is given? अनुपकारिणे to one who does no service (in return)? देशे in a fit place? काले in time? च and? पात्रे to a worthy person? च and? तत् that? दानम् gift? सात्त्विकम् Sattvic? स्मृतम् is held to be.Commentary The gift should be given to one who cannot return the good or to one from whom no such return is expected.It is necessary to be in Kurukshetra or Varanasi or any part of the world that is eally sacred when one offes gifts. The time should be during solar or lunar eclips or an eally auspicious occasion.Worthy A pious person who is a Tapasvin? who is well versed in the scriptures (the Vedas and the,Vedangas)? who is able to protect himself and the donor? etc.At such a time and such a place there shoule be a person worthy to receive the gift? a person who is the very incarnation of purity? the very abode of good conduct. A gift may be freely given to such a highly deserving person. The donor should not boast of his charity.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
That gift is deemed sattvic when it is given as a duty, without expectation of return, at the right place and time, and to a worthy recipient. The recipient should be one who is incapable of repaying the giver. In this manner, one must also consider the fitness of place, time, and recipient when giving. In a region afflicted by famine, the gift of food is most fitting, for it serves the needs of all beings in that time and place. A worthy recipient is understood to be one who is orphaned, suffering, helpless, and learned in virtuous conduct.
Some scholars hold the view that there is no need to consider place, time, and other such factors when giving. Just as a tree offers its fruits to all people without discrimination, so too should a person give from what is available to them.
Yet many would find it difficult to follow such a view and give accordingly. Therefore, the teaching of the Gita is most fitting: one should reflect upon whether one's gift is reaching worthy persons in society, or not.