Matsyapurana 143.15

143.15

eṣa yajño mahānindraḥ svayambhuvihitaḥ purā
evaṃ viśvabhugindrastu ṛṣibhistattvadarśibhiḥ
ukto na pratijagrāha mānamohasamanvitaḥ //

When the Adhvaryus became ready to immolate the animals for sacrificial purposes, the great Ṛiṣis were attacked with pity on seeing those helpless animals and addressed thus to Indra, the chief partaker—“What are all these in your sacrifices? To destroy life and cause pain are great sins, and O Indra! this is not a good thing in the rituals of your sacrifice You have started this sin to kill animals There is no benefit in such a sinful sacrifice On the other hand, they beget sin This is not dharma, rather this is adharma Killing animals cannot be dharma If you wish to perform virtuous deeds, act according to the Śastras and make the sacrifices free of any sin in Bījas (seed materials) Indra! You have started the vilest form of sacrifice by introducing such a sinful element as killing and injuring, into its rituals which will destroy Trivarga (Dharma, Artha, Kāma) O Indra! This great Yajña was established in ancient times by Svāyambhuva Brahmā The haughty Indra inspite of being thus advised by the learned sages did not heed their counsel—11 15