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यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।17.21।।

yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśhya vā punaḥ dīyate cha parikliṣhṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 17, Verse 21
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
And, that gift which is given with the intention of receiving something in return, or expecting a reward, or begrudgingly, is considered to be Rajasic.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: but that gift given with the expectation of a return favor, or looking for a reward, or given reluctantly, is regarded as being of the nature of passion, naming reluctant or transactional giving as belonging to the more restless, self-interested quality even when the outward gift is identical in size.

In life: reluctant giving, or giving with a clear expectation of something back, is a genuinely different act than giving freely, even when the outward gift given is exactly the same in every visible respect.

Teaching: notice the next time you give something reluctantly or with a clear expectation attached, and be honest with yourself that this is a meaningfully different act than free giving, even though it may look identical to an outside observer.

yatwhich
tubut
prati-upakāra-arthamwith the hope of a return
phalamreward
uddiśhyaexpectation
vāor
punaḥagain
dīyateis given
chaand
parikliṣhṭamreluctantly
tatthat
dānamcharity
rājasamin the mode of passion
smṛitamis said to be

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
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.