FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 17.21

యత్తు ప్రత్యుపకారార్థం ఫలముద్దిశ్య వా పున: । దీయతే చ పరిక్ల‍ి‍ష్టం తద్దానం రాజసం స్మృతమ్ ॥ ౨౧ ॥
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ
[yat tu pratyupakaaraartham]
phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ
[phalam uddishya vaa punah]
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ
[deeyate cha pariklishtam]
tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam
[tad daanam raajasam smritam]
Word-for-word
yat — that which tu — but prati - upakāra - artham — for the sake of getting some return phalam — a result uddiśya — desiring vā — or punaḥ — again dīyate — is given ca — also parikliṣṭam — grudgingly tat — that dānam — charity rājasam — in the mode of passion smṛtam — is understood to be .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ
yat
that which
tu
but
prati - upakāra - artham
for the sake of getting some return
phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ
phalam
a result
uddiśya
desiring
vā
or
punaḥ
again
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ
dīyate
is given
ca
also
parikliṣṭam
grudgingly
tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam
tat
that
dānam
charity
rājasam
in the mode of passion
smṛtam
is understood to be .
Important Words
  • prati - upakāra - artham — for the sake of getting some return favor
    Compound: prati (back, in return) + upakāra (favour, help) + artham (for the sake of). The first rajasic motive in dāna: expectation of reciprocity. The prati- is the rajasic syllable here — the mind's mirror constantly checking what will come back.
  • uddiśya — desiring
    Gerund of ud + √diś — 'pointing toward, aiming at.' The verse pairs it with phalam: charity 'aimed at a result.' The grammar makes giving an act of targeted desire rather than free overflow. Charity used as a magic instrument to produce specific outcomes — puṇya for one's next life, success for this one.
  • parikliṣṭam — grudgingly
    Past participle of pari + √kliś — to be afflicted, distressed all around. Charity given with inner suffering, with reluctance, with painful pulling. Note the precision: kliṣṭa alone would mean simply 'distressed'; pari- intensifies to 'all-around suffering' — the gift hurts going out.
  • smṛtam — is understood to be
    From √smṛ — to remember, to record. The chapter's rhythm: each mode of charity receives its smṛti-stamp (sāttvikam smṛtam, rājasam smṛtam) anchoring the classification in tradition's memory rather than in any single teacher's verdict.
But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood is said to be charity in the mode of passion.
Purport

Charity is sometimes performed for elevation to the heavenly kingdom and sometimes with great trouble and with repentance afterwards: “Why have I spent so much in this way?” Charity is also sometimes given under some obligation, at the request of a superior. These kinds of charity are said to be given in the mode of passion. There are many charitable foundations which offer their gifts to institutions where sense gratification goes on. Such charities are not recommended in the Vedic scripture. Only charity in the mode of goodness is recommended.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
21. That gift given with expectation of reciprocation, with desire for results, given unwillingly, is said to be rajasic.
Commentary

Parikliṣṭam (reluctance) means that one repents after giving the charity, thinking “Why is it necessary to give so much money?” Or it can mean that though not desiring to give, one gives charity only because the guru or someone else ordered him to do so. Or it can mean to use inauspicious items, since one did not do the charity willingly.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
21. That gift given with expectation of reciprocation, or with desire for results in next life, or given unwillingly, is said to be rajasika.
Commentary

The gift which is given with the aim of future attainment of svarga (phalam vā), or with the aim of some gift in return in the present life (praty upakārārtham), is charity in the mode of passion. Giving reluctantly (parikliṣṭam) means that one laments that one has to spend an amount that later will put one into difficulty, or that one gives only because of the order of guru.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Charity in passion

Expectation of some return
Desire for fruitive results
Elevation to heavenly kingdom
Offering gifts to institutions where sense gratification goes on
Grudging mood
e.g. With great trouble and repentance afterwards
Sometimes given under obligation at the request of a superior
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
17.21 Tu, but; the danam, gift; yat, which; diyate, is made; prati-upakara-artham, expecting reciprocation-with this purpose in view: 'In time, he will render service in return'-; va punah, or again; uddisya, with a desire for; its phalam, result-that, 'To me will accrue some unseen reward of this gift'-; and which is diyate, given; pariklistam, grudgingly, with reluctance; tat, that; is smrtam, considered to be; rajasam, born of rajas.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
17.21 That gift which is given grudgingly, viz., gift of useless things with a sly expectation of something in return that is said to be gift of Rajasa nature.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
17.21 See Comment under 17.22
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
17.21 And, that gift which is given with a view to receive something in return, or looking for a reward, or reluctantly, is held to be Rajasic.
Commentary

17.21 यत् which? तु indeed? प्रत्युपकारार्थम् with a view to receive in return? फलम् fruit? उद्दिश्य looking for? वा or? पुनः again? दीयते is given? च and? परिक्लिष्टम् reluctantly? तत् that? दानम् gift? राजसम् Rajasic? स्मृतम् is held to be.Commentary Charity or gift that is given in the hope that it will be returned in the future and praised in public or that the gift will bring some unseen reward or heavenly pleasure is passionate. If a man makes a gift to a Brahmana or a Sannyasin with the hope that all his sins will be washed away? this is also a Rajasic gift. If a man is grieved at heart after making the gift this is also a gift of passionate nature.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
17.21 But the gift which is given expecting reciprocation, or again, with a desire for its result, and which is given grudgingly,- that is considered to be born of rajas.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
17.21 That which is given for the sake of the results it will produce, or with the hope of recompense,or grudgingly - that may truly be said to be the outcome of Passion.
Related values & verses
Related values
Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Brahmacharya (Self-discipline / Restraint)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Kartavya (Duty / Responsibility)Raksha (Protective Responsibility)Nishkama Karma (Selfless Action)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)
Related verses
BG 2.49 BG 18.24 BG 7.23 SB 1.2.9 SB 4.19.37 SB 7.14.7 CC Madhya 22.89 CC Madhya 19.149 CC Madhya 24.103 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.10BRS 1.1.11
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Charity given grudgingly, with hope of return, or seeking a fruitive result — is rajasic.
Practical Applications
  • Notice grudging in your giving.
  • If grudging, give less but more wholeheartedly.
  • Don't manufacture giving you can't sustain.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is my giving grudging?
  • What sustainable wholehearted giving would replace it?
Analogy

Rajasic charity is like a businessman extending credit — generosity is real, but a ledger is kept somewhere. Each gift entered as a receivable: a favour, a thanks, a position. Even when no return arrives, the inner accountant grumbles. The hand opens; the heart still half-closes.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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