Matsyapurana 39.26

39.26

na mānyamāno mudamādadīta na saṃtāpaṃ prāpnuyāccāvamānāt
santaḥ sataḥ pūjayantīha loke nāsādhavaḥ sādhubuddhiṃ labhante //

Yayâti.—"For a man, the following seven things are the gates to heaven, *viz.*:—asceticism, charity, self-control, restraint, modesty, honesty, and kindness to all living creatures. Sages also say that even ascetics are ruined by conceit and tamoguṇa. A student who, thinking too much of his learning, employs his knowlege to belittle others, loses his privilege of finding a place in the higher regions, and that wisdom does not bear him fruit. The following four things, *viz.*, the performance of agnihotra, the observance of the vow of silence, the acquirement of knowledge and the performance of sacrifices, in spite of their being good-deeds, are marred by indulgence in drinks and conceit. It is worthy of a large-minded man not to become elated on being praised by others and not to get angry at their calumnies. High-minded men worship the good, and the wicked never get supreme knowledge in the world. To give alms and to study the Vedas, according to the ways prescribed, should be considered to be the best of all, and the vices mentioned above, should always be discarded; which would enable the learned to go closer to Brahma, through constant contemplation, and then attain final beatitude."—22-28.