Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Divisions of Faith
Chapter 17: Verse- 20
dätavyam iti yad dänam diyate ’nupakärine
Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.
In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a consideration. Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place of pilgrimage and at lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the month or to a qualified brähmana or a Vaisnavaor in temples. Such charities should be given without any consideration of return. Charity to the poor is sometimes given out of compassion, but if a poor man is not worth giving charity to, then there is no spiritual advancement. In other words, indiscriminate charity is not recommended in the Vedic literature.
- dätavyam=worth giving; iti=thus; yat=that which; dänam=charity; diyate=is given; anupakärine=irrespective of return; dese=in a proper place; käle=at a proper time; ca=also; pätre=to a suitable person; ca=and;
tat=that; dänam=charity; sättvikam=in the mode of goodness; smrtam=is considered.