Text 2] Instructions for Civilized Human Beings 199
TRANSLATION

A person desiring liberation for his forefathers or himself
should give charity to a brahmana who adheres to impersonal
monism [jfana-nistha]. In the absence of such an advanced
brahmana, charity may be given to a brahmana addicted to fruitive
activities [karma-kanda].

PURPORT

There are two processes by which to get free from material bondage.
One involves jridna-kdnda and karma-kdnda, and the other involves
updsanda-kanda. Vaisnavas 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 dnantyam
icchata 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-kdnda or jndana-kanda, for pure
devotional service is above both karma-kdnda and jrdna-kanda.
Anyabhildsita-siinyam jnana-karmady-andvurtam. In pure devotional
service there is not even a pinch of jridna or karma. Consequently, when
Vaisnavas distribute charity, they do not need to find a bradhmana per-
forming the activities of jidna-kdnda or karma-kdnda. The best exam-
ple in this regard is provided by Advaita Gosvami, who, after performing
the srdddha ceremony for his father, offered charity to Haridasa
Thakura, although it was known to everyone that Haridasa Thakura was
born in a Mohammedan family, not a brahmana family, and was not in-
terested in the activities of jridna-kdnda or karma-kdanda.

Charity, therefore, should be given to the first-class transcendentalist,
the devotee, because the Sdstras recommend:

muktanam api siddhanam
narayana-pardyanah
sudurlabhah prasantatma
kotisv api maha-mune

“O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in
knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or
