230. Types of Daan
A fter describing yajna and tapah in the context of gunas , Krishna talks about daan (charity) and says, “Charity, which is done, knowing it to be a duty, without consideration of anything in return, in a fit time and place, to a worthy person is considered to be satvik ” (17.20). There are multiple prescriptions in this verse. Firstly, Krishna earlier mentioned that yoga is not for one who eats too much or doesn’t eat at all nor for one who sleeps too much or keeps awake (6.16). Essentially, it is being appropriate while keeping the circumstances in mind. During illness, one’s food intake decreases, and conversely, it increases after a physically strenuous day. This indicates that appropriateness depends on time and place. Thus, this verse suggests that appropriateness entails going with the flow and adapting to the circumstances. Secondly, it is being appropriate with regards to the person to whom daan is being made. It’s like how countries holding dual-use techn...