Yathora

The Gita · Chapter 17

Bhagavad Gita 17.22

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥

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

Translation

That alms given at unfit place and time, and to unworthy persons, disrespectfully and contemptuously, that is declared of darkness.

What it means

A gift given at a wrong place and time, to the unworthy, without respect or with contempt: that is declared tamasic. Even charity can humiliate. The manner of giving is part of the gift.

Try this today

Tamasic giving: the insulting donation - worse than not giving.

Something to reflect on

Have I ever given in a way that humiliated?

Read it in Yathora
← 17.2117.23 →

Translation by Annie Besant (1905, public domain). The meanings are original to Yathora, drawn from Shankara’s commentary.