अर्चायामेव हरये पूजां य: श्रद्धयेहते ।
न तद्भक्तेषु चान्येषु स भक्त: प्राकृत: स्मृत: ॥
arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate |
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.47; cited in the Krama-sandarbha-ṭīkā to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.22; Bhakti Sandarbha: 106)
“One who with śraddhā performs worship for Hari in the deity alone and not in his bhaktas or others [i.e., one who worships Hari in his deity form but neglects to honor his presence in his bhaktas and in all living beings] is known as a beginning bhakta.”