Chapter 17, Verse 21 (Bhagavad Gita 17.21)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्
Transliteration
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśhya vā punaḥ dīyate cha parikliṣhṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam
Word Meanings
yat—which; tu—but; prati-upakāra-artham—with the hope of a return; phalam—reward; uddiśhya—expectation; vā—or; punaḥ—again; dīyate—is given; cha—and; parikliṣhṭam—reluctantly; tat—that; dānam—charity; rājasam—in the mode of passion; smṛitam—is said to be
Translation
But the gift that is given with the expectation of a return, or with a desire for a reward, or given begrudgingly, is declared to be of the nature of passion (Rajasic).
Meaning & Commentary
In this sacred instruction, Lord Krishna reveals that the quality of our actions is determined by the consciousness behind them. When Shri Krishna categorizes charity as Rajasic, He warns the seeker against allowing ego-driven desires and calculations to contaminate the act of giving. A gift rooted in self-interest or hesitation binds the soul to the cycle of karma, keeping the practitioner away from true liberation. Yogeshwar Krishna calls upon every devotee to transcend these lower modes of nature and perform charity as an offering to the Divine without expectation. By purifying our intentions, we align ourselves with the Supreme, turning every act of service into a pathway toward eternal Moksha.