Chapter 17 Shloka 21
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुन:।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।२१।।
The Lord says:
However, that gift given with the object of receiving some service in return or in the hope of receiving some reward, and that which is given grudgingly, is rajsic daan.
Rajsic daan
Little one, the Lord elaborates now on rajsic daan – the charity of those in whom the attributes of greed and desire predominate.
The Rajsic:
a) give such charity with the expectation of a return;
b) charity is tainted by desire for self;
c) charity is in the nature of a business;
d) never lose sight of their selfish ends;
e) give charity only for self establishment.
They seek:
a) recognition and renown;
b) establishment in society;
c) wealth;
d) the service of others;
e) the support of others for their own projects.
Greed and desire mark their every act and thought. Their service and their charity are also not free of selfish motives.
Such people perform great deeds and give huge donations, but it is extremely difficult to extract true charity from them.
1. This is because their charity does not spring from compassion.
2. They do not build hospitals out of compassion for the ill and the diseased. They construct hospitals in order to make a name for themselves.
3. Even if they engage in service of the world, it is only to serve as a means to establish themselves.
4. They give charity in order to subjugate the other under their obligation or to gain their selfish ends.
5. Such people give charity after subjugating others, humiliating them, causing them much sorrow and snatching away their self respect.
They are hypocrites, full of pride and ego. They never consider giving anything where it is of no benefit to them. They give charity under pressure from others and never of their own accord. They give only when it can no longer be avoided; and it causes them great heartache to do so. Such is rajsic daan.
