Dhamma Verses (Dhammapada, KN 2)

14: The Chapter about the Buddha – 185
Worshipping the worthy has boundless merit
While the Buddha and his disciples were on walking tour they
came to the shrine of Kassapa, a previous Buddha; one
brahmin came and paid homage to the shrine, but not to the
Buddha or his disciples; the Buddha lauded the brahmin for
his act of faith but said it is even better to worship those still
living who are worthy of worship.
195-196. Pūjārahe pūjayato, Buddhe yadi va sāvake,
papañcasamatikkante, tiṇṇasokapariddave;
te tādise pūjayato, nibbute akutobhaye,
na sakkā puññaṁ saṅkhātuṁ, imettam-api kenaci.
For those who worship those worthy,
whether Buddhas or disciples,
with impediments overcome,
free of grief and lamentation;
for those who worship such as these,
the emancipated, fearless,
none can measure their vast merit,
saying: it is as much as this.
Buddhavaggo Cuddasamo
The Chapter about the Buddha, the Fourteenth