Chapter XVII · Śloka 21
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः |
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ||
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ||
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ |
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||
But that gift given with the expectation of a return, or hoping for a reward, or given reluctantly — that is remembered as rājasika.
Rājasika charity is commerce dressed as generosity. Whether the return expected is material, social, or karmic, the transaction is already embedded in the gift. The giver has not really given — they have invested and are awaiting a return.
