Word meanings
- adeśa
- at the wrong place
- kāle
- at the wrong time
- yat
- which
- dānam
- charity
- apātrebhyaḥ
- to unworthy persons
- ca
- and
- dīyate
- is given
- asat-kṛtam
- without respect
- avajñātam
- with contempt
- tat
- that
- tāmasam
- of the nature of nescience
- udāhṛtam
- is held to be
Translations
The gift that is given in the wrong place and at the wrong time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with insult, is declared to be of a Tamasic nature.
And that which is given at an inappropriate place or time or to one who is undeserving, or with disrespect or contempt - such a gift is the result of ignorance.
The gift which is made at an inappropriate place and time, and to undeserving persons, without proper respect and with disdain, is declared to be born of tamas.
जो दान बिना सत्कारके तथा अवज्ञापूर्वक अयोग्य देश और कालमें कुपात्रको दिया जाता है, वह दान तामस कहा गया है।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.