The Great Nirvana Sutra states:
Those who go to the three jewels for refuge
Come closer to the virtuous;
They never go
To other deities for refuge.
Those who go to the sublime teaching for refuge
Harbor no harmful, murderous thoughts.
Those who go to the community for refuge
Do not associate with non-Buddhist philosophers.Lamrim Vol 1, Pg 194
Not going to other deities for refuge is explained as fellows: since you should not even hold worldly deities such as Rudra and as your ultimate refuge, what need be said about nagas and the local divinities who are hungry ghosts?
LAMRIM VOL 1, PG 194
We have to understand special quality of Buddha’s teaching and remind ourselves constantly that once we go for refuge with the Three Jewels, we will no longer take refuge in others. Because the great teacher of the internal path is the Buddha and his teaching is the Dharma. Those who learn the teaching are the Sangha members.
The Three Jewels are the most precious and truly worthy of our refuges. ????????????????
