Chapter 17, Verse 20 (Bhagavad Gita 17.20)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्
Transliteration
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate ‘nupakāriṇe deśhe kāle cha pātre cha tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛitam
Word Meanings
dātavyam—worthy of charity; iti—thus; yat—which; dānam—charity; dīyate—is given; anupakāriṇe—to one who cannot give in return; deśhe—in the proper place; kāle—at the proper time; cha—and; pātre—to a worthy person; cha—and; tat—that; dānam—charity; sāttvikam—in the mode of goodness; smṛitam—is stated to be
Translation
Charity given as a duty, to a worthy person, at a proper time and place, and to one who cannot return the favor, is considered Sattvic.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna elevates the act of charity from a mere social gesture to a profound spiritual discipline. He teaches Arjuna that true Sattvic charity is performed without the egoistic desire for reciprocity, rooted instead in the divine recognition of duty. By instructing the seeker to give to a worthy person at the right time and place, Lord Krishna emphasizes the need for wisdom and discrimination in our devotion. This act, when performed as an offering to the Supreme, purifies the heart and cleanses the mind of attachments. Through this selfless benevolence, a devotee moves closer to the Lord, transcending the gunas and walking the path toward eternal liberation.