Matsyapurana 143.39

143.39

prācīnabarhiḥ parjanyo havirdhānādayo nṛpāḥ
ete cānye ca bahavas te tapobhirdivaṃ gatāḥ //

When the Ṛiṣis went away, the Devas completed the sacrifice I have also heard that many Brâhmanas and Kṣattriya kings became perfect by their tapasyâ and went to the Heavens The king Priyavrata, Uttânapâda, Dhruva Medhâtithi, Vasu Sudhâmâ, Virajâ, Śaṅkhapada, Rajasa Prâchina varhi, Parjanya, Havirdhâna and others The famous Râjarṣis of high renown went to heaven by virtue of their asceticism The glory of the Râjarṣis is still renowned in the world, consequently, asceticism is superior to sacrifices In days of yore, Brahmâ created the Universe by the power of His asceticism But no such powers can be attained by sacrifice So tapasyâ is the underlying root in this Universe In this way, the sacrifices were performed at the time of Svayambhuva Manu and since then, they are in vogue during all the ages—42