Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 21 Meaning
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.
BG 17.21
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśhya vā punaḥ dīyate cha parikliṣhṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam
Meaning
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.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 17.21 Mean?
The Gita addresses the three types with characteristic directness here. 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. Within the broader arc of Chapter 17, this verse builds on Krishna's systematic exposition of worship and charity. Shankaracharya emphasizes that this teaching is not merely contextual but universal.
The principle of the three types expressed here transcends its battlefield setting and speaks to the fundamental relationship between action, knowledge, and spiritual realization. Applied to contemporary life, this teaching asks us to examine our relationship with worship and charity. Not through self-judgment, but through honest observation that gradually shifts our center of gravity from reactive habit to conscious choice.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 17.21?
How faith manifests according to the three modes of nature.
Key themes in this chapter include Faith, Food, Sacrifice, Charity.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 17.21 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with faith
- •When practicing food amid uncertainty
- •When applying sacrifice to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 17.3
The faith of each is in accordance with their nature, O Arjuna. People consist of their faith; as a person's faith is, so are they.
BG 17.20
That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a suitable place and time to a worthy person, is held to be Sattvic.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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