विष्णुभक्तिविहीना ये चण्डालाः परिकीर्तिताः ।
चण्डाला अपि वै श्रेष्ठा हरिभक्तिपरायणाः ॥
viṣṇu-bhakti-vihīnā ye caṇḍālāḥ parikīrtitāḥ |
caṇḍālā api vai śreṣṭhā hari-bhakti-parāyaṇāḥ ||
(Bṛhan Nāradīya Purāṇa: 1.37.12; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.153; Bhakti Sandarbha: 100)
“Those who are devoid of Viṣṇu-bhakti are declared outcastes (caṇḍālas). Even outcastes (caṇḍālas) who are devoted to Hari-bhakti are exalted.”