Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 22 Meaning
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.
BG 17.22
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्
adeśha-kāle yad dānam apātrebhyaśh cha dīyate asat-kṛitam avajñātaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam
Meaning
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.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 17.22 Mean?
The Gita addresses faith with characteristic directness here. 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. Within the broader arc of Chapter 17, this verse builds on Krishna's systematic exposition of worship and charity. The verse operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it addresses Arjuna's immediate situation.
At a deeper level, it articulates a universal principle about worship and charity that applies to every person navigating the complexities of moral and spiritual life. For the modern practitioner, this verse suggests a concrete experiment: approach today's responsibilities with the awareness this teaching describes. The Gita's promise is that even imperfect practice in the right direction yields real results.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 17.22?
How faith manifests according to the three modes of nature.
Key themes in this chapter include Faith, Food, Sacrifice, Charity.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 17.22 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with faith
- •When practicing food amid uncertainty
- •When applying sacrifice to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 17.3
The faith of each is in accordance with their nature, O Arjuna. People consist of their faith; as a person's faith is, so are they.
BG 17.20
That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a suitable place and time to a worthy person, is held to be Sattvic.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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