Shloka 20
Abhimanyu’s Assault on Bhīṣma’s Screen; Banner-Felling and Reinforcements (सौभद्र-भीष्म-समरः)
१९ || सम्बन्ध-- तीन प्रकारके तपोंका लक्षण करके अब दानके तीन प्रकारके लक्षण कहते हैं-- दातव्यमिति यद् दानं दीयते5नुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद् दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्,दान देना ही कर्तव्य है*--ऐसे भावसे जो दान देश तथा काल* और पात्रके प्राप्त होनेपर८ उपकार न करनेवालेके प्रति दिया जाता है, वह दान सात्त्विक कहा गया है+
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe | deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam ||
Arjuna said: That gift which is given with the conviction, “It ought to be given,” to one who offers no return, and which is offered at the proper place and time to a worthy recipient—such giving is remembered as sāttvika (pure, lucid, and ethically elevating).
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sāttvika charity is defined by intention and discernment: one gives because it is one’s duty, without seeking repayment, and chooses an appropriate place, time, and worthy recipient.
In the midst of the Kurukṣetra setting, the teaching turns to ethical disciplines; here the speaker classifies forms of giving (dāna) and identifies the pure (sāttvika) kind by motive (no expectation) and propriety (right place, time, and recipient).