Chapter 17 · The three kinds of faith
Bhagavad Gita 17.21
Given for a return, or grudgingly.
Shri Bhagavan
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥
yattu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ / dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ taddānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam
But dana given to get something back, or with a result in view, or given grudgingly and with reluctance, is held to be rajasic.
हिंदी · परन्तु जो दान बदले में कुछ पाने के लिए, या किसी फल को ध्यान में रखकर दिया जाता है, अथवा मन में कष्ट लेकर अनिच्छा से दिया जाता है, वह राजसी माना गया है।
What it means
Given for a return, or grudgingly.
But a gift given in hope of return, or for some reward, or given grudgingly — that gift is called rajasic.
This is the Trust’s own reading, written for this site. The verse above it is the text.
Verses that share its vocabulary
Near it in the text’s own words.
- 8.28The yogi who knows all this passes beyond whatever merit is laid down for the Vedas, for sacrifices, for austerities and for gifts, and reaches the supreme and original abode.
- 10.5Non-violence, evenness of mind, contentment, austerity, giving, fame and disgrace: these many different states of living beings arise from me alone.
- 11.48Not by study of the Vedas or by sacrifice, not by gifts, not by rituals, not by harsh austerities can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone but you, great warrior of the Kurus.
- 11.53Not by the Vedas, not by austerity, not by giving, not by sacrifice can I be seen in the form in which you have just now seen me.
- 16.1Fearlessness, a clean and settled mind, steadiness in knowledge and in yoga, giving, restraint of the senses, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, and being straight with people.
- 17.7Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, and so are yajna, tapas and dana. Listen now to how they differ from one another.
Chosen by shared uncommon vocabulary, weighted so that a rare word counts for far more than a common one. A reading aid, not a claim that these verses mean the same thing.