Shloka 21
Abhimanyu’s Assault on Bhīṣma’s Screen; Banner-Felling and Reinforcements (सौभद्र-भीष्म-समरः)
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थ फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुन: । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद् दानं राजसं स्मृतम्,किंतु जो दान क्लेशपूर्वकः तथा प्रत्युपकारके प्रयोजनसेः अथवा फलको दृष्टिमें रखकर* फिर दिया जाता है, वह दान राजस कहा गया है
yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ | dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam ||
But that gift which is given with strain or reluctance, either with the aim of securing a return or with one’s eye fixed on some reward, is remembered as a rājasa form of charity.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is ethically evaluated by intention: giving that is done with inner strain, or with expectation of repayment or reward, is classified as rājasa—driven by desire and self-interest rather than pure duty.
Within Bhīṣma Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, the text distinguishes kinds of giving by the guṇas. This verse defines rājasa charity as giving motivated by anticipated returns or results, and performed with reluctance or discomfort.