Srimad Bhagavad-Gita Chapter-17. { Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam } Slokam-20.

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Tuesday, January 04, 2022. 9:00. PM.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

Chapter-17. { Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam }

Slokam-20. 

"Datavyamiti   yaddanam   diyatenupakarine,

dese  kale  ca  patre  ca  tad  danam  sattvikam   smrtam."

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Translation :

datavyam  iti  =  this  charity  is  is  my  duty,  thus  with  this  consciousness  of ;

anupakarine  =  (to  those  who  have ) no  capacity  of  returning  the  help;

dese  kale  ca  patre  ca  =  in worthy  place  ( mean  villege, town, and any place ),  in  worthy  time,  and  to  suitable  person;

 yat   danam   diyate  tat  danam  sattvikam   smrtam  =  that  charity  is  sattvikam.

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Meaning of the slokam :

"That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness."

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Commentary :

The three fold divisions of danam or charity are now being delineated by Lord Krishna. 

To give in charity to worthy recipients is a duty. 

Those who give such charity without the slightest inclination for any reciprocal return are those situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness. 

Such aspirants will offer danam at an auspicious place such as Kuruksetra where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita or anywhere along the bank of the 2000 miles long sacred river Ganga. 

They will offer danam at an auspicious time such as during a solar eclipse or the holy day of ekadasi the 11th day preceding the new moon and the full moon. 

They will offer danam to auspicious personalities such as Vaisnava brahmanas endowed with wisdom in knowing the conclusions of the Vedic scriptures or they will offer danam to a temple of the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations as revealed in Vedic scriptures. 

These are all danam situated in sattva guna. 

The word patre means qualified person, it can also mean protector if analysed from its root pa. 

Who is better to protect one then the Vaisnava brahmanas who can reveal the conclusive truths of the Vedic scriptures and save one from samsara the perpetual cycle of birth and death.

Lord Krishna describes the threefold divisions of danam or charity. 

It is an act of duty to give danam accordingly to one's capability. 

The danam that is offered freely from the heart to Vaisnavas and brahmanas without expectation of receiving anything back in return, that is bestowed in a holy place like Navadwip Dham or Jagannatha Puri, that is bequeathed at an auspicious time such as the month of Kartika or the month of Magha is danam situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness.

It is a duty to offer danam or charity to worthy recepients. 

Lord Krishna explains that danam that is offered without expectation of reward, hopes for services or wishing anything in return that is offered at an auspicious place, at an auspicious time to spiritually enlightened Vaisnavas brahmanas steeped in the conclusive knowledge of the Vedic scriptures is to be understood as the best of danam and situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness.

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 Vaishnava (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.

To be continued  ...

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