दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।17.20।।
।।17.20।।दान देना कर्तव्य है -- ऐसे भावसे जो दान देश? काल और पात्रके प्राप्त होनेपर अनुपकारीको दिया जाता है? वह दान सात्त्विक कहा गया है।
The three fold divisions of danam or charity are now being delineated by Lord Krishna. To give in charity to worthy recipients is a duty. Those who give such charity without the slightest inclination for any reciprocal return are those situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness. Such aspirants will offer danam at an auspicious place such as Kuruksetra where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita or anywhere along the bank of the 2000 miles long sacred river Ganga. They will offer danam at an auspicious time such as during a solar eclipse or the holy day of ekadasi the 11th day preceding the new moon and the full moon. They will offer danam to auspicious personalities such as Vaisnava brahmanas endowed with wisdom in knowing the conclusions of the Vedic scriptures or they will offer danam to a temple of the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations as revealed in Vedic scriptures. These are all danam situated in sattva guna. The word patre means qualified person, it can also mean protector if analysed from its root pa. Who is better to protect one then the Vaisnava brahmanas who can reveal the conclusive truths of the Vedic scriptures and save one from samsara the perpetual cycle of birth and death.
It is a duty to offer danam or charity to worthy recepients. Lord Krishna explains that danam that is offered without expectation of reward, hopes for services or wishing anything in return that is offered at an auspicious place, at an auspicious time to spiritually enlightened Vaisnavas brahmanas steeped in the conclusive knowledge of the Vedic scriptures is to be understood as the best of danam and situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness.
It is a duty to offer danam or charity to worthy recepients. Lord Krishna explains that danam that is offered without expectation of reward, hopes for services or wishing anything in return that is offered at an auspicious place, at an auspicious time to spiritually enlightened Vaisnavas brahmanas steeped in the conclusive knowledge of the Vedic scriptures is to be understood as the best of danam and situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness.
