Skip to content

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 22 (17.22)

Reflective Prompt:

How do you bring a sense of sacredness or purity to your daily actions?

  • Option 1: By starting actions with a dedication to the Divine or the greater good (Om).
  • Option 2: By offering the results of my efforts selflessly without attachment (Tat).
  • Option 3: By focusing on absolute integrity, goodness, and truth in all my dealings (Sat).

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 22 (17.22)

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते । असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् | | १७-२२ | |

adeśhakāle yaddānamapātrebyaśhcha dīyate asatkṛitamavajñātaṁ tattāmasamudāhṛitam Learnings from Shlokas 7-22: The meaning and intention of uttering Om Tat Sat explained.

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • अदेशकाले (adesha-kale) — गलत स्थान और समय पर(at the wrong place and time)
  • यत् (yat) — जिसे(which)
  • दानम् (danam) — दान(gift)
  • अपात्रेभ्यः (apatrebhyah) — अयोग्य लोगों को(to the undeserving)
  • (cha) — और(and)
  • दीयते (diyate) — दिया जाता है(is given)
Line 2:
  • असत्कृतम् (asat-kritam) — सम्मान बिना(without respect)
  • अवज्ञातम् (avajnatam) — तिरस्कार से(with contempt)
  • तत् (tat) — वह(that)
  • तामसम् (tamasam) — तामसिक(ignorant)
  • उदाहृतम् (udahritam) — कहा गया(is called)
Line 3:
  • learnings joined in Learnings
  • from joined in from
  • slo joined in Shlokas
  • कः (kah) — कौन(who)
Line 4:
  • te joined in The
  • मे (me) — मेरा/मुझे(my/to me)
  • aning joined in meaning
  • and joined in and
  • intention joined in intention
  • of joined in of
  • uttering joined in uttering
  • om joined in Om
  • तत् (tat) — वह(that)
  • sat joined in Sat
  • explained joined in explained

English: And that which is given at an unsuitable place or time or to one who is unworthy, or with disrespect or contempt - such a gift is the result of lack of understanding.

💡 Commentary Note

Charity given at the wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, with contempt, or without proper respect, is Tamasik.

### Shlokas 23-28 **The meaning and intention of uttering Om Tat Sat explained.**

Learnings from Shloka 22:
  • Three Kinds of Food:: Pure foods (fresh, juicy, healthy) increase life and cheerfulness. Passionate foods (too sour, salty, hot, pungent) cause pain and sickness. Ignorant foods (stale, tasteless, spoiled, unclean) lead to darkness.
  • Three Kinds of Worship:: Pure worship is done as a duty without wanting results. Passionate worship is for show or reward. Ignorant worship ignores wisdom and rules.
  • Three Disciplines (Tapas)::
  • Body:: Cleanliness, simplicity, self-restraint, and harmlessness.
  • Speech:: Speaking truths that are pleasant, helpful, and not hurtful, plus regular study.
  • Mind:: Calmness, kindness, silence, and self-control.
  • Three Kinds of Charity:: Pure charity is given respectfully to a deserving person at the right time and place. Passionate charity is given grudgingly or for show/reward. Ignorant charity is given disrespectfully to unworthy people.

Gita Knowledge Quiz

Review this section

Now that you have completed shlokas 7-22, check your understanding with a short quiz.

Take quiz

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 17.22 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary