To become a devotee does not require to take birth in high aristocratic family or brāhmaṇa family, because here it is said śvapacaṁ variṣṭham. That means the person who is considered to be the less than the fourth-class man, he also exalted if he is devotee. What is the reason? Because devotee means:
- prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ manye
- tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha
- (SB 7.9.10)
Because a devotee means one who has dedicated—I have already explained the other day—dedicated his body, mind and words for Kṛṣṇa. That is the test of devotee, whether he has engaged these three things to the service of the Lord. Then he is devotee. Body . . . because our all activities are based on these three principles. With mind we plan: thinking, feeling and willing. And willing is given practical shape by the bodily work, or words, by speaking.
So this is the test of a devotee. Prahlāda Mahārāja says he may be born in a family of the dog-eaters, but because he has engaged his body, mind and words for Kṛṣṇa, for service of Kṛṣṇa, then he is better, he is superior, he is in superior position than the so-called brahmin with all good qualifications but without any devotional spirit.