Bhishma said As regards the religious rite for the deities these do not yield fruits on account of the Brahmana who is engaged in doing them but through the grace of the deities themselves. Forsooth, those persons who perform sacrifices acquire the merit of those acts, through the favour of the deities.
भीष्म उवाच न ब्राह्मणं साध्यते हव्यं दैवात् प्रसिद्ध्यति। देवप्रसादादिज्यन्ते यजमानैर्न संशयः॥