Gārhasthya-dharma: Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī-saṃvāda
Householder Duties and Daily Offerings
एवं कृत्वा बलिं सम्यग दद्याद् भिक्षां द्विजाय वै | अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्याग्नावग्रमुद्धृत्य निक्षिपेत्
evaṁ kṛtvā baliṁ samyag dadyād bhikṣāṁ dvijāya vai | alābhe brāhmaṇasyāgnāv agram uddhṛtya nikṣipet ||
Having thus properly prepared and offered the bali (ritual portion), one should then give alms to a twice-born (Brahmin). If no Brahmin is available to receive it, one should take up the foremost portion and place it into the sacred fire—so that the intended act of giving is not abandoned, but fulfilled in a dharmic substitute.
वायुदेव उवाच
Charity and ritual duty should be completed in a proper, dharmic way: give the allotted alms to a worthy Brahmin; if such a recipient is unavailable, do not neglect the obligation—offer the foremost portion into the sacred fire as a sanctioned substitute.
Vāyudeva is instructing on correct household/ritual conduct: after making the bali offering, one should distribute alms to a dvija. When a Brahmin cannot be found, the first portion is instead consigned to Agni, preserving the intent and purity of the rite.