King Videha [Nimi] understood that the nine sages were exalted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, overjoyed at their auspicious arrival, he offered them suitable sitting places and worshiped them in a proper way, just as one would worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
विदेहस्तानभिप्रेत्य नारायणपरायणान् । प्रीतः सम्पूजयाञ्चक्रे आसनस्थान् यथार्हतः
videhastānabhipretya nārāyaṇaparāyaṇān | prītaḥ sampūjayāñcakre āsanasthān yathārhataḥ
SB 11.2.26