📿 Shloka Collection

Adeshakale Yad Danam

Gita 17.22 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 17 — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
Adeshakale yad danam apatrebhyash cha deeyate,
Asatkritam avajnatam tat tamasam udahritam.
अदेशकाले
at the wrong place and time
दानम्
charity
अपात्रेभ्यः
to unworthy recipients
दीयते
is given
असत्कृतम्
without respect / without proper treatment
अवज्ञातम्
with contempt
तामसम्
tamasic

Tamasic charity gets everything wrong. The place is wrong. The time is wrong. The recipient is undeserving. And to make matters worse, the giving is done without respect — or with open contempt.

Giving is a noble act, but giving carelessly or insultingly strips it of all value. Tossing something at a person in need with a sneer on your face — that is not generosity. It wounds the receiver and corrupts the giver.

Charity requires both warmth and discernment. Without discernment, the gift misses its mark. Without warmth, it becomes an act of humiliation. Tamasic charity satisfies neither the giver nor the receiver.

This shloka completes the charity classification. Shlokas 17.20 (sattvic), 17.21 (rajasic), and 17.22 (tamasic) together form the full framework. Starting from the next shloka, Krishna moves to the final and most elevated section of the chapter: the meaning of "Om Tat Sat."

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