Mahabharata 13.65.18

13.65.18

devā ūcuḥ |
bhagavaṃstvaṃ prabhurbhūmeḥ sarvasya tridivasya ca |
yajemahi mahābhāga yajñaṃ bhavadanujñayā |
nānanujñātabhūmirhi yajñasya phalamaśnute || 18 ||

'The deities said, 'O illustrious one, thou art the lord of all the earth as also of all the deities. With thy permission, O highly blessed one, we desire to perform a sacrifice. The person who has not obtained by lawful means the earth whereon to make the sacrificial altar, earns not the merit of the sacrifice he performs. Thou art the Lord of all the universe consisting of its mobile and immobile objects. Hence, it behoveth thee to grant us a piece of earth for the sacrifice we wish to make.'