Matsyapurana 143.27

143.27

tasmānna vācyo hyekena bahujñenāpi saṃśayaḥ
bahudhārasya dharmasya sūkṣmā duranugā gatiḥ //

On hearing the reply of Vasu the sages foreseeing his future destiny cursed him to fall down King Vasu, of higher regions by the curse, went to Rasâtala—the lower region That virtuous king inspite of his being very wise, in removing the doubtful points of Śastras, went to the lower region for the fault of his plain speaking, it is not, therefore, wise for one individual though he is very learned, to pass a decided opinion on any subject having many phases, for, the analysis of dharma is extremely delicate and is very hard to be thoroughly known and more difficult to express it No one except the Devas Ṛiṣis, and Manu, should, therefore, assert regarding any dharma with certainty What the Ṛiṣis said of yore, about non killing animals in sacrifices, that is then the best course Ṛiṣis never perform any act of hiṃsâ in course of a sacrifice and many millions of them attained heaven by virtue of their penances Taking all things into consideration, the great sages do not praise any act of hiṃsâ The ascetic sages have gone to heaven by offering in sacrifices, roots, fruits, leaves, water and vessels that they collected by unchhavṛitti (gathering in handfuls) The absence of greed, attachment, the practice of celibacy, compassion on beings, doing good to others, tranquility of mind, Brahmacharya cleanliness, abhorrence from anger, forgiving others, firmness are said to be the firm roots of the eternal dharma—24 32