Text 2] Instructions for Civilized Human Beings
199
TRANSLATION
A person desiring liberation for his forefathers or himself should give charity to a brāhmaṇa who adheres to impersonal monism [jñāna-niṣṭhā]. In the absence of such an advanced brāhmaṇa, charity may be given to a brāhmaṇa addicted to fruitive activities [karma-kāṇḍa].
PURPORT
There are two processes by which to get free from material bondage. One involves  jñāna-kāṇḍa  and  karma-kāṇḍa , and the other involves  upāsanā-kāṇḍa . Vaiṣṇavas never want to merge into the existence of the Supreme; rather, they want to be everlastingly servants of the Lord to render loving service unto Him. In this verse the words  ānantyam icchatā  refer to persons who desire to achieve liberation from material bondage and merge into the existence of the Lord. Devotees, however, whose objective is to associate personally with the Lord, have no desire to accept the activities of  karma-kāṇḍa  or  jñāna-kāṇḍa , for pure devotional service is above both  karma-kāṇḍa  and  jñāna-kāṇḍa .  Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam . In pure devotional service there is not even a pinch of  jñāna  or  karma . Consequently, when Vaiṣṇavas distribute charity, they do not need to find a  brāhmaṇa  performing the activities of  jñāna-kāṇḍa  or  karma-kāṇḍa . The best example in this regard is provided by Advaita Gosvāmī, who, after performing the  śrāddha  ceremony for his father, offered charity to Haridāsa Thākura, although it was known to everyone that Haridāsa Thākura was born in a Mohammedan family, not a  brāhmaṇa  family, and was not interested in the activities of  jñāna-kāṇḍa  or  karma-kāṇḍa .
Charity, therefore, should be given to the first-class transcendentalist, the devotee, because the  śāstras  recommend:
muktānām api siddhānām  
 nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ  
 sudurlabhaḥ praśāntātmā  
 koṭiṣv api mahā-mune
“O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa, or