Manava Dharmashastra 4.228

4.228

yatkiñcitsvalpamapi yācitānābhyarthitena dātavyam | pātrāpātrasaṃdehe asati niścaye kiñciddātavyaṃ nāti bahu | vacanācca saṃdehe na dātavyam | utpatsyate kadācitpātramasau bhaviṣyati—kiṃbhūtam—yatpātraṃ tārayati rakṣati sarvato narakapātahetoḥ sarvasmādenasaḥ | yaduktaṃ “vedatattvārthaviduṣe brāhmaṇāyeti” taṃtrāyaṃ saṃdehāśraya īṣadvravyaviṣayo'pavādaḥ |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Something’—however little—shall be given by one who is ‘asked,’ begged. If there is some doubt,—and no certainty—as to the person being a worthy or unworthy recipient, some little thing, not much, should be given. The idea, that much shall not be given, is due to a direct assertion to that effect, in connection with doubtful cases.

It is just possible that the man may turn out to be a worthy recipient;—What sort of recipient?—‘One who will save him from’—guard him against—‘everything’—all kinds of Sin that lead men to hell.

It has been said under 3.96 that gifts are to be offered to ‘one who knows the Veda and its meaning;’ and to that the present verse is an exception, providing for small gifts being offered in cases of doubtful worthiness of the recipient.—(228)