अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १७.२२ ॥

adeśa-kāle yad-dānam-apātrebhyaś-ca dīyate |
asat-kṛtam-avajñātaṁ tat-tāmasam-udāhṛtam || 17.22 ||

If any dāna is made in an improper place and at an inappropriate time, disharmonious with the prevailing conditions, with disrespect or even insult shown to the recipient, then it becomes tāmasika, the worst.

The giver must not feel any sense of superiority while giving. His attitude should be: “I am graced with a considerate mind. I am also blessed with some resources to help. That is why I am making the gift, if at all. For such resourcefulness and benevolence, I am grateful to Nature and the Supreme. Let me continue to deserve these virtues. In fact, I am indebted to those who receive what I give. They are the ones who fulfill my heart and its yearning”.

No extent of gratitude will be in excess. While giving implies a degree of affluence in the giver, any thought of condescension will easily desecrate his mind and heart. Thus sufficient caution and safeguard become inevitable. This is where scriptures and their authors come with timely caution, help and guidance.

See how Krishna analyses the act, the attitude and motivation leading to the act, showing clearly when and how these can go wrong and the ways by which they can become right and noble. The exhortation is to foster the benevolent notes and eschew the maleficent ones. So, a constant effort to gain purity and sublimity becomes inevitable.

Keeping this in view, Krishna enters into a brief discussion of the three words ‘Om Tat Sat’ (17.23-27).