An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s1.458.6

c5.s1.458.6

according to the [true] scriptural ordinances the sacrifice should be performed with seeds of grain which had been kept for three years. As Indra did not accept their words, a great dispute arose; they referred to the Cedi king Vasu, who declared that a sacrifice may be performed with whichever of the two kinds of objects is ready; he therefore had to enter Rasātala; therefore no one should singly be relied upon, when a doubt arises, except Brahmán; gifts made by a sinful person and with wealth acquired by unrighteous means became lost; while men possessing the wealth of penances acquired great merit and proceeded to Heaven, by giving away, to the best of their ability, grains of corn, or roots, etc., or water or leaves. The same results are also won by compassion, brahmacarya, truthfulness, kindness, fortitude, and forgiveness, which are the eternal foundations of eternal righteousness; having made gifts of articles lawfully acquired, Viçvāmitra, etc. (a), have attained to high success; those amongst brahmans, kṣattriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras, who betake themselves to penances, and who purify themselves by gifts and other acts of righteousness, proceed to Heaven (XIV, 91). Janamejaya said: If Heaven is the result of wealth acquired by lawful means, please tell me all about it; thou hast told me the great result that accrued to the brahman living by gleaning grains from his gift of powdered barley.