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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 84: Verses 38-50
0 Vasudeva, a wise man should get rid of his thirst for wealth by performing sacrifices and making gifts, his craving for wife and children by enjoying the pleasures of a married life, and his desire for the enjoyment of the higher worlds etc., by thoughts of their being subject to the ravages of Time, Having (thus) renounced all (the three types of) desires even at home, the wise proceeded to the forest for askesis. 0 Vasudeva, the Brahmana, the Ksatriya and the Vaisya are born with debts to gods, the Rsis and the manes. He who renounces the home without discharging these debts through the performance of sacrifices, study of the scriptures and by begetting a son respectively (surely) falls. (0 wise Vasudeva,) you are as a matter of fact free from your debts to the Rsis and the manes now. Pay off your debt to the gods (too) through the performance of sacrifices, and thus freed from all obligations you may quit the home. Vasudeva, you have surely worshipped Sri Hari, the Lord of the universe, with supreme devotion. That is why He has accepted the role of a son to you. Sri Suka went on : (Pariksit,) hearing the aforesaid words of the Rsis the high-minded Vasudeva sought their favour by saluting them with his head bent low and appinted them to officiate as priests at his sacrificial performance.
Duly appointed as priests, 0 king, the Rsis helped the pious Vasudeva in performing a number of sacrifices on the largest scale in that holy place. On Vasudeva being initiated for the sacrifice, the Yadus and (other) kings took their bath, put on their best attire and ornaments and adorned themselves with garlands of lotuses. The consorts of Vasudeva too adorned themselves with gold necklaces and besmeared their bodies with sandal-paste and, clad in their best attire, joyously entered the sacrificial hall with offerings in their hands. Clay tomtoms, tabors, conchs, drums, kettledrums and other musical instruments were sounded (at the time); dancers, both male and female danced; bards and panegyrists uttered praises; Gandharva women with their husbands sang beautiful songs. Vasudeva applied collyrium to his eyes and anointed his body with butter. The priests (then) consecrated him alongwith his eighteen wives by sprinkling water on them, just as (in the ancient times) the moon and the stars were consecrated. Initiated for the sacrifice and clad in deer skin Vasudeva looked most charming with his wives who were all dressed in (beautiful) saris and adorned with bracelets, necklaces, anklets and ear-rings. Clad in silk and adorned with jewels, the priests and supervisors of the sacrifice shone like the priests at the sacrifice performed by Indra (the slayer of Vrtra). Sri Krsna and Balarama, the Rulers of (all) Jivas shone brightly on that occasion with their relations, consorts and sons, who were Their part manifestations.
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