Chapter 17, Verse 20
Chapter 17 · karma-yoga
Shloka
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||
English Meaning
English Meaning
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.
Hindi Meaning
दान देना ही कर्तव्य है" - इस भाव से जो दान योग्य देश, काल को देखकर ऐसे (योग्य) पात्र (व्यक्ति) को दिया जाता है, जिससे प्रत्युपकार की अपेक्षा नहीं होती है, वह दान सात्त्विक माना गया है।।
Russian Meaning
Тот дар, который дается тому, кто ничего не делает взамен, зная, что это обязанность дать его в подходящем месте и в подходящее время достойному человеку, такой дар считается саттвическим.
Spanish Meaning
Ese regalo que se da a alguien que no hace nada a cambio, sabiendo que es un deber dárselo en el lugar y momento adecuados a una persona digna, ese regalo se considera sáttvico.
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.