(Referring to Narada in his previous life serving the great devotees)

Simply being served by somebody as…, like a boy servant, they become delivered. There was no question of preaching. Simply giving the opportunity to serve, the fallen souls become delivered. But you must be competent; not to take service for nothing. Then you’ll go to hell. If you are actually in spiritual position, then by giving others little opportunity to serve you, he’ll be delivered. No question of understanding the philosophy. A devotee must be so perfect. The system is, therefore, as soon as one sees a devotee, he falls down and takes the…, touches the feet. This is the system. Because by touching the feet… Mahat-pada-rajo-‘bhisekam [SB 5.12.12]. If one is actually elevated to the spiritual life and people take the opportunity of touching his lotus feet, then he becomes devotee. This is the process.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.23, August 4, 1974, Vrndavana