Matsyapurana 145.20

145.20

atha śiṣṭānpravakṣyāmi sādhūnatha tataśca vai
brāhmaṇāḥ śrutiśabdāśca devānāṃ paśumūrtayaḥ
saṃyujya brahmaṇā hyantas tena santaḥ pracakṣate //

Now something will be said about good men and Sādhus The Brāhmanas and the Vedas are considered as the Paśu mûrtis or animal forms of the Devas Brahma resides within their hearts, hence, these are Sat or good The Brāhmanas, the Ksatriyas and the Vaiśya, all of them direct their actions in accordance with the Śrutis and the Smṛtis and are busy in ordinary or in special functions—20 21