BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:20

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:20

 

datavyam iti yad danam

diyate 'nupakarine

dese kale ca patre ca

tad danam sattvikam smrtam

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

datavyam--worth giving; iti--thus; yat--that which; danam--charity;

diyate--is given; anupakarine--irrespective of return; dese--in a

proper place; kale--at a proper time; ca--also; patre--to a suitable

person; ca--and; tat--that; danam--charity; sattvikam--in the mode of

goodness; smrtam--is considered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the

proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in

the mode of goodness.

 

PURPORT

 

In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in

spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for

giving charity indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a

consideration. Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place

of pilgrimage and at lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the

month or to a qualified brahmana or a Vaisnava (devotee) or in

temples. Such charities should be given without any consideration of

return. Charity to the poor is sometimes given out of compassion, but

if a poor man is not worth giving charity to, then there is no

spiritual advancement. In other words, indiscriminate charity is not

recommended in the Vedic literature.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.