Verse 17.20
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे | देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ||२०||
Transliteration (IAST)
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe | deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam ||20||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
That gift which is given with the sense of duty, to one who cannot reciprocate, at the proper place and time, and to a worthy person - that gift is considered sattvic.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that sattvic charity has four qualifications: it is given as duty (not for return), to one who cannot repay, at an appropriate time and place, and to a deserving recipient. Ramanuja emphasizes anupakāriṇe - giving to those who cannot return the favor ensures the gift is truly selfless. Madhva notes that deśa-kāla-pātra (place, time, recipient) is the traditional framework for righteous giving.