यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
किन्तु जो दान प्रत्युपकारके लिये अथवा फलप्राप्तिका उद्देश्य बनाकर फिर क्लेशपूर्वक दिया जाता है, वह दान राजस कहा जाता है ॥
English
But charity given in return, or for a desired result, and given grudgingly, is said to be rajasic.
What this verse means
A gift loses its purity when you give it to get something back or to force a result, especially if you give it unwillingly.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Krishna is classifying the nature of giving for Arjuna, who is still shaken and searching for right action. After pure giving, Krishna now names a second kind: charity mixed with expectation, strain, and return-seeking.
Why this verse still matters
You send the money, then keep checking whether they thanked you properly. The gift was real, but part of you was still negotiating.
The takeaway
Generosity feels lighter when it is not secretly a trade.
Word-by-word translation
यत् (which) / तु (but) / प्रत्युपकारार्थम् (for return-favor) / फलम् (fruit, result) / उद्दिश्य (aiming at) / वा (or) / पुनः (again) / दीयते (is given) / च (and) / परिक्लिष्टम् (with strain, grudgingly) / तत् (that) / दानम् (gift, charity) / राजसम् (rajasic) / स्मृतम् (is called)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: rajas (21 verses), dana (11 verses)