Bhagavad Gita · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga YogaChapter 17, Shloka 20 (17.20)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
दातव्यमिति यद् दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद् दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्
॥ 17.20 ॥
dātavyamiti yad dānaṃ dīyate'nupakāriṇe
deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam
Translation
"The gift given in the spirit of 'it ought to be given', to one who has done nothing for us, at the proper place and time and to a worthy recipient — that gift is held to be sattvic."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. anupakāriṇe pratyupakārāsamarthāya? samarthāyāpi nirapekṣaṃ — to one who cannot repay, or even if they can, without expectation; place — Kurukshetra and the like; time — sankranti and the like; recipient — ṣaḍaṅgavid vedapāraga ity ādau (a learned person).
Acharya Ramanuja. phalābhisandhirahitaṃ dātavyam iti.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.