Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 17, verse 20 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 17.20 · Datavyamiti Yaddanam
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥
dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate’nupakāriṇe |
deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||
Translation
A gift given simply because giving is right, to one who can do nothing in return, at the proper place and time and to a worthy person — that gift is held to be sattvic.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 17, Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — “The Three Kinds of Faith”, which has 28 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.20 mean?
A gift given simply because giving is right, to one who can do nothing in return, at the proper place and time and to a worthy person — that gift is held to be sattvic.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.20?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 17, Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.