Bhagavad-gītā 17.22
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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adeśa
—
at an unpurified place
Privative a- + deśa (place). The exact inverse of deśe in verse 20. The mode of charity is read first by its coordinates — get the location wrong and even right intent decays.
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kāle
—
at an unpurified time
Locative of kāla — but here, paired with adeśa, the implication is akāle — wrong time. The omission of the privative a- in the second word relies on the listener carrying it over from adeśa. Sanskrit's economy: one prefix governs two nouns.
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apātrebhyaḥ
—
to unworthy persons
Privative a- + pātra (vessel) + dative plural. Inverse of pātre in verse 20. The 'cracked vessel' — one who cannot rightly hold what is given. Charity to such a one is not generosity; it is the further breaking of an already broken cup.
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asat - kṛtam
—
without respect
Compound: asat (not honourable) + kṛtam (done). Done without honouring the act or the receiver. The thrown coin, the disdainful gift. The tamasic giver may even resent the receiver for needing — and the resentment poisons what should have been gift.
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avajñātam
—
without proper attention
Past participle of ava + √jñā — 'looked down upon, dismissed.' Stronger than asat-kṛtam: not merely unattentive but actively contemptuous. The verb's metaphor: looking *down* on the receiver while ostensibly raising the hand to give.
Contributions for indulgence in intoxication and gambling are not encouraged here. That sort of contribution is in the mode of ignorance. Such charity is not beneficial; rather, sinful persons are encouraged. Similarly, if a person gives charity to a suitable person but without respect and without attention, that sort of charity is also said to be in the mode of darkness.
The result of disregard (avajṣatam) is offence (asat-kṛtam).
Charity given at an unclean place (adeśa), at an inauspicious time (akāle), to undeserving people, such as actors, and, even if time and place are proper, given with lack of proper respect (asat kṛtam) to the recipient (such as not washing the feet), and with disregard (avajṣātam), in the form of using low forms of address in speaking to the person, is charity in the mode of ignorance.
Charity in ignorance
17.22 अदेशकाले at a wrong place and time? यत् which? दानम् gift? अपात्रेभ्यः to unworthy persons? च and? दीयते is given? असत्कृतम् without respect? अवज्ञातम् with insult? तत् that? तामसम् Tamasic? उदाहृतम् is declared to be.Commentary Adesakale At a wrong place and time At a place which is not holy? where irreligious people congregate and where beggars assemble? where wealth acired through illegal means such as gambling? theft? etc.? is distributed to gamblers? singers? fools? rogues? women of evil reputation and at a time which is not auspicious. But? this does not discourage giving alms or other charity to the poor and the needy. In their case these restrictions do not apply.Without respect? etc. Without pleasant speech? without the washing of feet or without worship? although the gift is made at a proper time and place.The donor does not give in good faith although he gets a worthy recipient. He never bends his head in worship. He does not offer him a seat. He treats him with contempt or disrespect.Lord Krishna says to Arjuna I have described that faith? charity? austerity? food? etc.? are invariably coloured by the three alities. There was no desire on My part to refer to the lower ones but to distinguish the highest purity it was necessary to point out the mark of the other two. When the two are set aside? the third is more clearly appreciated in the same way as if day and night are removed the twilight is seen better. Even so be avoiding passion and darkness? the third? viz.? purity or Sattva becomes vividly clear and purity which is the best can be easily realised. Thus in order to show thee the real nature of purity? I have described the other two? so that laying them aside? and resorting to the highest thou mayest attain the goal? viz.? Moksha.
- Don't give carelessly; respect the receiver and the moment.
- Don't enable the unworthy.
- Cultivate discernment in charity.
- Where has my giving been careless?
- What discernment would improve it?
Tamasic charity is like emptying a sack of grain into a swamp — the substance is real but the receiving has no order. Wrong place, wrong moment, wrong hands, no respect in the giving. The grain that could have fed a village rots in mud, and the giver is left with neither gratitude nor merit, only an empty sack.
My note
Source: vedabase.io