The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 3.101.1

3.101.1

devā ūcuḥ |
itaḥ pradānādvartante prajāḥ sarvāścaturvidhāḥ |
tā bhāvitā bhāvayanti havyakavyairdivaukasaḥ || 1 ||

"The celestials said, 'Through thy favour it is that all born beings of the four kinds increase. And they being created, propitiate the dwellers of heaven by offerings made to the gods and the names of departed forefathers. Thus it is that people, protected by thee and free from trouble live depending on one another, and (so) increase. Now this peril hath befallen the people. We do not know by whom are Brahmanas being killed during the night. If the Brahmanas are destroyed, the earth itself will meet with destruction, and if the earth cometh to an end, heaven also will cease to exist. O mighty-armed one, O lord of the universe! we beseech thee (to act so) that all the worlds, protected by thee, may not come to an end, so it may please thee.'