April Gītā: 18.5

Yajña dāna tapaḥ karma
na tyājyaṁ kāryam eve tat
yajño dānaṁ tapaśc' aiva
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām

‘Acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity are not to be abandoned; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and austerity purify even the great souls.’
Bhagavad Gītā 18.5

This verse from the last chapter of the Bhagavad Gita clears up a question of Arjuna’s: if we’re to remain detached, what about sacrifice, charity and austerity? Although the word yajña is translated as sacrifice it means offering our ego to God. Dāna, charity is humanities dharma, that which we should all do. Tapas is discipline so that we don’t fall into the dark place of lust, anger and greed (kāma, krodha, lobha). Krishna emphatically states sacrifice, charity and austerity purify humanity. The word pāvanāni, purify, comes from many sources. It’s a name for sacred basil, a broom to clean with and the wind god, to blow away the dust from our eyes. By our efforts to keep sacrifice, charity and austerity we not only help ourselves but we lift others with us. Lift one lift all. Even if all you have is a broom, you can still do sacrifice, charity and austerity.

– Hamish Hendry