Bhagavad Gita 17.22अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
adeśha-kāle yad dānam apātrebhyaśh cha
dīyate asat-kṛitam avajñātaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam
Sanskrit recitation
Food, effort, and giving · 17.7–17.22 · Teaching
Translation
The gift that is given in the wrong place and at the wrong time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with insult, is declared to be of a Tamasic nature.
Hindi translation
जो दान बिना सत्कारके तथा अवज्ञापूर्वक अयोग्य देश और कालमें कुपात्रको दिया जाता है, वह दान तामस कहा गया है।
Meaning
Adesakale At a wrong place and time At a place which is not holy, where irreligious people congregate and where beggars assemble, where wealth acired through illegal means such as gambling, theft, etc., is distributed to gamblers, singers, fools, rogues, women of evil reputation and at a time which is not auspicious. But, this does not discourage giving alms or other charity to the poor and the needy. In their case these restrictions do not apply.Without respect, etc. Without pleasant speech, without the washing of feet or without worship, although the gift is made at a proper time and place.The donor does not give in good faith although he gets a worthy recipient. He never bends his head in worship. He does not offer him a seat. He treats him with contempt or disrespect.Lord Krishna says to Arjuna I have described that faith, charity, austerity, food, etc., are invariably coloured by the three alities. There was no desire on My part to refer to the lower ones but to distinguish the highest purity it was necessary to point out the mark of the other two. When the two are set aside, the third is more clearly appreciated in the same way as if day and night are removed the twilight is seen better. Even so be avoiding passion and darkness, the third, viz., purity or Sattva becomes vividly clear and purity which is the best can be easily realised
After Swami Sivananda
Food, effort, and giving· 17.7–17.22→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 17.7The food that is dear to each is threefold, as well as sacrifice, austerity, and…
- 17.8The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good…
- 17.9The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by…
- 17.10That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, rejected, and impure is the food liked by…
- 17.11That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward, as enjoined by the…
- 17.12The sacrifice that is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for show, know that to be a…
- 17.13They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the…
- 17.14Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers, and the wise; purity,…
- 17.15Speech that causes no excitement, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial; the practice of…
- 17.16Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, and purity of nature—this is called…
- 17.17This threefold austerity, practiced by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no…
- 17.18The austerity that is practiced with the aim of gaining good reception, honor, and…
- 17.19That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the…
- 17.20That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to…
- 17.21And, that gift which is given with the intention of receiving something in return, or…
17.22The gift that is given in the wrong place and at the wrong time, to unworthy persons,…
Word-by-word→
- cha
- and
- tat
- that
- yat
- which
- kāle
- at the wrong time
- dānam
- charity
- adeśha
- at the wrong place
- dīyate
- is given
- tāmasam
- of the nature of nescience
- avajñātam
- with contempt
- udāhṛitam
- is held to be
- asat-kṛitam
- without respect
- apātrebhyaḥ
- to unworthy persons
Read this when you feel
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- 17.1Arjuna said, "What is the condition of those who, disregarding the injunctions of the…
- 12.16He who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all…
- 18.28Unsteady, vulgar, inflexible, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent, and…
- 16.17Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform…