Chapter 17 · Verse 21 · Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 17.21
Sanskrit
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।17.21।।
Transliteration
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśhya vā punaḥ dīyate cha parikliṣhṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam
In plain words
You keep giving—your love, your money, your effort, your apologies—but you're counting. You're waiting for it to come back, for them to change, for the scales to balance. Krishna says: that invisible scorekeeping is what's poisoning the gift and poisoning you. The only way out is to give what you must give, then let go of the ledger entirely.
Word by Word
When the gift is given with expectation of return, or with reluctance and inner resistance, it falls into the passionate mode—the realm of ego's calculations. The Lord shows us that charity born from transaction, not transformation, binds rather than frees.
In our modern lives, this teaches us to examine whether we give to feel worthy, to secure favor, or to genuinely serve—for true generosity asks nothing back, not even gratitude.
Listen
Bhagavad Gita 17.21 — BG 17.21
Your Mantra Prescription
This mantra is prescribed for clarity and purpose. Is that what you're going through?
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