Mahabharata 13.23.7

13.23.7

brāhmaṇā bharataśreṣṭha satataṃ brahmavādinaḥ |
mārkaṇḍeyaḥ purā prāha iha lokeṣu buddhimān || 7 ||

"Bhishma said, 'As regards acts that have reference to the deities, these fructify not in consequence of the Brahmana that is employed in doing the rites but through the grace of the deities themselves. Without doubt, those persons that perform sacrifice obtain the merit attached to those acts, through the grace of the deities. The Brahmanas, O chief of the Bharatas, are always devoted of Brahman. The Rishi Markandeya, one of the greatest Rishis endued with intelligence in all the worlds, said this in days of yore.'