Whosoever with devotion offers me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept it from him as the devout gift of a pure heart. O son of Kunti, whatever thou doest, whatever thou eatest, whatever thou offerest as oblation, whatever thou givest as gift, and whatever soul’s power thou puttest forth, do it as an offering unto me.
When a gift is offered with the thought that it is righteous to perform acts of charity, without expecting anything in return, at the right time and place and to a worthy person, that gift is regarded as the source of self-liberation and peace.
That gift which is made with the hope of receiving in return, or desiring personal reward, or with reluctance, is known as the source of pride and sorrow. The gift that is given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy persons, or ungraciously and with contempt, is the cause of self-degradation and misery.
AUM-TAT-SAT, this has been declared to be the triple name of Brahman, by which in the beginning were created and sanctified the Brahmanas, the Vedas and the sacrifice. Therefore, with the utterance of AUM, the worshippers of Brahman always commence their acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity, as enjoined by the laws of the holy scriptures. The seekers of liberation, uttering TAT, without desiring any phenomenal reward, perform various acts of sacrifice, austerity and charity. The word SAT is used to signify reality and goodness. O son of Pritha, the word SAT is also used to indicate and extol an auspicious act.
Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita: The Revelation of the Supreme Self
9:26-27, 17: 20-22, 23-26
Translation by Swami Premananda