In Bhagavad Gita 17.22, Krishna says a gift given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with contempt, is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अदेशकाले यद्दानम्
अपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १७-२२ ॥
adeśakāle yaddānam
apātrebhyaśca dīyate
asatkṛtamavajñātaṃ
tattāmasamudāhṛtam
English transliteration adeshakaale yaddaanam
apaatrebhyashcha deeyate
asatkritamavajnaatam
tattaamasamudaahritam ॥ 17.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
A gift given at the wrong place and time, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with contempt, is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अदेशकाले adeśakāle | at the wrong place and time adeśa (wrong place) + kāle (time) |
| यत् yat | which |
| दानम् dānam | gift |
| अपात्रेभ्यः apātrebhyaḥ | to unworthy recipients |
| च ca | and |
| दीयते dīyate | is given |
| असत्कृतम् asatkṛtam | without respect |
| अवज्ञातम् avajñātam | with contempt |
| तत् tat | that |
| तामसम् tāmasam | tamasic |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–de–śa–kā–le yad–dā–nam– 8 syllables a-de-sha-kaa-le yad-daa-nam-
- a–pāt–rebh–yaś–ca dī–ya–te | 8 syllables a-paat-rebh-yash-cha dee-ya-te
- a–sat–kṛ–ta–ma–va–jñā–taṃ 8 syllables a-sat-kri-ta-ma-va-jnaa-tam
- tat–tā–ma–sa–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 17-22 8 syllables tat-taa-ma-sa-mu-daa-hri-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 22
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of charity (17.20–17.22).
Meaning
Tamasic giving lacks discernment and respect: given at the wrong deśa and kāla, to apātra, those who will misuse it, asatkṛta, without courtesy, or avajñāta, with contempt for the receiver.
How we give matters as much as what we give. Giving with contempt hurts the receiver and the giver.
In Practice
When you give anything today, give it with respect and courtesy.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.