दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे | देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ||१७-२०||
dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate.anupakāriṇe . deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||17-20||
Chapter 17 · Verse 20
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग
In plain words
The gift should be given to one who cannot return the good or to one from whom no such return is expected. It is necessary to be in Kurukshetra or Varanasi or any part of the world that is eally sacred when one offes gifts. The time should be during solar or lunar eclips or an eally auspicious occasion.
Translation
17.20 Gifts given with the feeling, that it is one's own duty to give to one who makes no return, at the proper place and time to the deserving person - that is said to be Sattvika.
Meaning
The gift should be given to one who cannot return the good or to one from whom no such return is expected. It is necessary to be in Kurukshetra or Varanasi or any part of the world that is eally sacred when one offes gifts. The time should be during solar or lunar eclips or an eally auspicious occasion. Worthy A pious person who is a Tapasvin who is well versed in the scriptures (the Vedas and the,Vedangas) who is able to protect himself and the donor etc. At such a time and such a place there shoule be a person worthy to receive the gift a person who is the very incarnation of purity the very abode of good conduct. A gift may be freely given to such a highly deserving person. The donor should not boast of his charity.
Word by word
दातव्यम् ought to be given इति thus यत् that दानम् gift दीयते is given अनुपकारिणे to one who does no service (in return) देशे in a fit place काले in time च and पात्रे to a worthy person च and तत् that दानम् gift सात्त्विकम् Sattvic स्मृतम् is held to be.