Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Verse 17.20
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।17.20।।
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 · English
That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a suitable place and time to a worthy person, is held to be Sattvic.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna elevates the act of charity (dana) from a mere social obligation to a profound spiritual discipline. The essence of sattvic giving lies in the dissolution of the ego’s desire for reciprocity. By specifying that the recipient must be 'anupakariṇe'—someone who cannot return the favor—Krishna removes the transactional nature of human relationships, forcing the practitioner to view the recipient as a reflection of the Divine rather than a subject for personal validation or leverage. This is an exercise in karma yoga, where action becomes an offering, purifying the heart of attachment and expectation. Beyond the mere act of giving, the verse introduces the rigorous standards of 'desha, kala, and patra'—place, time, and recipient. This illustrates that true spirituality is not impulsive or emotional; it is grounded in dharmic discernment (viveka). By aligning one's actions with these parameters, the seeker harmonizes their finite will with the cosmic order (rita). The act ceases to be an ego-driven gesture and transforms into a sacrifice, anchoring the giver in the mode of goodness and preparing the mind for the ultimate realization of the Self, where the giver, the gift, and the receiver are recognized as non-dual reality.
Sattvic charity is the ultimate renunciation of ego, where one gives without expectation, acknowledging that all resources are sacred offerings to the Divine present in all beings.
Connected Verses
Provides the broader philosophical context of sattvic knowledge, which allows one to see the one undivided existence in all beings, thus enabling the selfless charity described in 17.20.
Explains that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should never be abandoned but rather purified to lead one toward liberation.
Connects the act of charity to the practice of surrendering all actions as an offering to the Divine, effectively deifying the act of giving.
Reinforces the core principle of performing duty without attachment to the fruits of one's actions, which is the foundation of sattvic giving.
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