So there is distinction, caste distinction, according to spiritual advancement. The brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, these are higher class or lower class according to the spiritual understanding. But one who is elevated in spiritual understanding, he is brāhmaṇa. Brahmā jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ. Brāhmaṇa does not mean simply . . . Of course, in this age brāhmaṇa means vipratve sūtram eva hi (SB 12.2.3). That is also predicted, that if you get one sūtra, one thread, one paisa worth, and get it on your body, then you become a brāhmaṇa. No, that is not. Brāhmaṇa is a qualification.
- satya śamo damas
- titikṣa kṣantir ārjavam
- jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
- brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
- (BG 18.42)
So these things are being lost; therefore in the Kali-yuga practically everyone is a śūdra. Patita-adhama, adhama. Narādhamāḥ. In the Bhagavad-gītā also it is said, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Because people at the present moment are very, very low grade, nīca jāti, nīca-saṅgī, fallen and narādhamāḥ . . . The same thing is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ. Those who are narādhamāḥ, lowest of the mankind and very, very sinful, duṣkṛtina, mūḍhāḥ and rascal, they do not surrender to Kṛṣṇa.
So to surrender to Kṛṣṇa requires little qualification, and that qualification Sanātana Gosvāmī wanted. Therefore he has approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We can follow his footsprints. He is also . . . He is an ācārya. But it is essential, essential. Don't be assured that you are very highly elevated person. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, everyone—this is a challenge—everyone is lowborn. Everyone is nīca, and badly associated, fallen and the lowest of the mankind, because he's missing the chance of understanding Kṛṣṇa in this human form life, and nobody knows what he's going to be next life.