दातव्यम् इति यद् दानं दीयते ऽनुपकारिणे ॥
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद् दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥
यत् तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलम् उद्दिश्य वा पुनः ॥
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद् दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥
अदेशकाले यद् दानम् अपात्रेभ्यश् च दीयते ॥
असत्कृतम् अवज्ञातं तत् तामसम् उदाहृतम् ॥
dātavyam iti yad dānaṃ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe ||
deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ ||
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||
adeśakāle yad dānam apātrebhyaś ca dīyate ||
asatkṛtam avajñātaṃ tat tāmasam udāhṛtam ||
"A gift that is given to a worthy recipient, at the proper place and time, with the thought 'this must be given' and without expecting a return favor, is considered sattvic. But a gift that is given for the sake of a return favor, for a result, or with inner reluctance, is considered rajasic. A gift that is given at an unsuitable place and time, to unworthy recipients, without honor and with contempt, is declared tamasic."
5a787728ccb1 · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:02:20 PM UTC
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Charity is measured not by its amount but by the consciousness behind it. A pure gift is free of bargaining and arrogance: it takes account of place, time, and a worthy recipient, and is performed as service to duty.