Mahabharata 1.87.18

1.87.18

kuryāmapūrvaṃ na kṛtaṃ yadanyairvivitsamānaḥ kimu tatra sādhu |
bruvāṇamevaṃ nṛpatiṃ yayātiṃ nṛpottamo vasumanābravīttam || 18 ||

"Yayati answered, 'O monarch, no king of equal energy should ever desire to receive as gift the religious merits of another king acquired by Yoga austerities. And no king who is afflicted with calamity through the fates should, if wise, act in a censurable way. A king keeping his eye fixed for ever on virtue should walk along the path of virtue like myself and, knowing what his duties are, should not act so meanly as thou directest. When others desirous of acquiring religious merits do not accept gifts, how can I do what they themselves do not? On the conclusion of this speech, that best of kings, Yayati, was then addressed by Vasumat in the following words.'"