Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 21 — Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Sanskrit
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः | दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ||१७-२१||
Transliteration
yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ . dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||17-21||
Hindi Meaning
।।17.21।। और जो दान क्लेशपूर्वक तथा प्रत्युपकार के उद्देश्य से अथवा फल की कामना रखकर दिया जाता हैं, वह दान राजस माना गया है।।
English Meaning
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.
Commentary
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.
Hinglish Commentary
Charity ka ek alag hi maqsad hota hai, par kabhi kabhi log ise sirf swarg jaane ke liye karte hain, ya phir baad mein ye soch kar pachtate hain ki "maine itna kyun kharch kiya?" Kabhi kabhi ye bhi hota hai ki kisi superior ke kehne par, ya phir kisi obligation ki wajah se charity di jaati hai. Ye sab charity ki wo prakar hai jo rajasik yaani passion ke mode mein aati hai. Aaj kal bahut saari charitable foundations hain jo apne gifts un institutions ko deti hain jahan sirf sense gratification hoti hai. Lekin aise donations Vedic scriptures mein nahi recommend kiye gaye hain. Sirf wo charity jo sattvik yaani goodness ke mode mein hoti hai, uski hi sifaariish ki gayi hai.
Chinmaya Commentary
क्लेशपूर्वक दान से तात्पर्य उस दान से है जो हम अनेक प्रकार के चन्दे के रूप में अनिच्छापूर्वक देते हैं। शेष अर्थ स्पष्ट है।