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अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.22।।

adeśha-kāle yad dānam apātrebhyaśh cha dīyate asat-kṛitam avajñātaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 17, Verse 22
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
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.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: a gift given at an unsuitable place or time, to an unworthy recipient, without respect or with contempt, is regarded as being of the nature of ignorance, naming careless, disrespectful giving, done without real attention to fit or recipient, as the dullest version of this practice.

In life: giving without any real thought to whether it's actually helpful or well-timed for the recipient can be its own kind of careless, thoughtless act, even when technically generous in form.

Teaching: before your next act of giving, take a moment to actually consider whether the timing, context, and recipient make this a genuinely thoughtful gift, rather than a careless one given without real attention to whether it actually helps.

adeśhaat the wrong place
kāleat the wrong time
yatwhich
dānamcharity
apātrebhyaḥto unworthy persons
chaand
dīyateis given
asat-kṛitamwithout respect
avajñātamwith contempt
tatthat
tāmasamof the nature of nescience
udāhṛitamis held to be

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
17.22 अदेशकाले at a wrong place and time? यत् which? दानम् gift? अपात्रेभ्यः to unworthy persons? च and? दीयते is given? असत्कृतम् without respect? अवज्ञातम् with insult? तत् that? तामसम् Tamasic? उदाहृतम् is declared to be.Commentary 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. Thus in order to show thee the real nature of purity? I have described the other two? so that laying them aside? and resorting to the highest thou mayest attain the goal? viz.? Moksha.