The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.1.41

13.1.41

sarpa uvāca |
yathā havīṃṣi juhvānā makhe vai lubdhakartvijaḥ |
na phalaṃ prāpnuvantyatra paraloke tathā hyaham || 41 ||

"The serpent said, 'O fowler, as the officiating priests at a sacrifice do not acquire the merit of the act by offering oblations of clarified butter to the fire, even so should I be regarded with respect as to the result in this connection.'