Revākhaṇḍa ascribed to the Vāyupurāṇa (RKV) 182.21

182.21

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi nocurvai kiṃciduttaram /
aṣṭādaśasahasreṣu bhṛgukopabhayānnṛpa /
uktaṃ ca tālakaṃ haste yasya tasyedamuttaram //

The eighteen thousand did not give any answer at all.
Among the eighteen thousand, out of fear of Bhṛgu's anger, O king,
it was said: “Whosoever has the palm-leaf [deed] in hand, to him belongs this answer.”