Shloka 20
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥ १७.२० ॥
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe | deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam || 17.20 ||
‘ദാനം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതാണ്’ എന്ന ബോധത്തോടെ, പ്രത്യുപകാരമില്ലാത്തവന്, യോജ്യമായ ദേശത്തും കാലത്തും യോഗ്യനായ പാത്രത്തിലും നൽകുന്ന ദാനത്തെ സാത്ത്വികമെന്ന് കരുതുന്നു.
Charity given as a duty, to one who does not return a benefit, at the proper place and time and to a worthy recipient, is considered sāttvika.
That gift which is given with the thought ‘it ought to be given,’ to one from whom no return is expected, and given appropriately with respect to place, time, and recipient, is remembered as sāttvika dāna.
The main interpretive issue is anupakārin: it may mean “one who has not helped (you)” or “one who will not/cannot repay.” Many modern readings take it as non-reciprocal giving (no expectation of return), aligning with the chapter’s emphasis on motivation.
FAQs
It associates the healthiest form of giving with duty and discernment rather than guilt, pressure, or expectation—supporting prosocial behavior without transactional anxiety.
Sāttvika dāna functions as a purifying practice: it reduces possessiveness and strengthens clarity and generosity, which are valued for liberation-oriented life.
After classifying tapas, the text applies the same guṇa framework to dāna, shifting from discipline to social ethics.
Give without expecting repayment, and match help to context—timely support, appropriate channels, and responsible assessment of where aid is effective.