In Bhagavad Gita 17.21, Krishna says a gift given expecting something in return, or with an eye to reward, or given reluctantly, is rajasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं
फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं
तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ १७-२१ ॥
yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ
phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ
taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam
English transliteration yattu pratyupakaaraartham
phalamuddishya vaa punah
deeyate cha pariklishtam
taddaanam raajasam smritam ॥ 17.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But a gift given in the hope of a return, or with an eye to its reward, or given reluctantly, is held to be rajasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| तु tu | but |
| प्रत्युपकारार्थम् pratyupakārārtham | in the hope of a return pratyupakāra (return favour) + artham (for) |
| फलम् phalam | reward |
| उद्दिश्य uddiśya | with an eye to |
| वा vā | or |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| दीयते dīyate | is given |
| च ca | and |
| परिक्लिष्टम् parikliṣṭam | reluctantly |
| तत् tat | that |
| दानम् dānam | gift |
| राजसम् rājasam | rajasic |
| स्मृतम् smṛtam | is held |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–tu prat–yu–pa–kā–rār–thaṃ 8 syllables yat-tu prat-yu-pa-kaa-raar-tham
- pha–la–mud–diś–ya vā pu–naḥ | 8 syllables pha-la-mud-dish-ya vaa pu-nah
- dī–ya–te ca pa–rik–liṣ–ṭaṃ 8 syllables dee-ya-te cha pa-rik-lish-tam
- tad–dā–naṃ rā–ja–saṃ smṛ–tam || 17-21 8 syllables tad-daa-nam raa-ja-sam smri-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 21
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of charity (17.20–17.22).
Meaning
Rajasic giving is a transaction: given for pratyupakāra, a return favour; for phala, merit or recognition; or parikliṣṭa, grudgingly, with inner resistance.
Giving with strings attached is not true generosity. Reluctant giving also lacks the joy of real dāna.
In Practice
Notice whether you give expecting something back, and practise giving freely today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.