BG - 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

• 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

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.

Commentary