Answer
In today's age, practically everyone's consciousness has become shudra-like. That is the general condition of Kali-yuga.
In earlier ages, people tried to preserve the culture of qualified families. Their concern was not merely preserving a bloodline but preserving a particular culture and way of life.
Today, however, everyone must rise spiritually through samskara (purification), proper association, and devotional practice.
If someone feels proud of being born in a brahmana or kshatriya family, that feeling should only inspire one thing:
"Because I have received this favorable opportunity, I should become Krishna conscious."
Otherwise, such pride simply becomes material pride, and pride always leads to downfall.
If a family no longer possesses genuine brahminical culture, then merely claiming,
"I am a brahmana because my father was a brahmana,"
has very little meaning.
If neither the father nor the family actually lives according to brahminical principles, then only the lineage remains, not the culture.
However, if there is genuine brahminical culture within the home, then naturally it has a powerful influence on the children.
Culture develops through association.
That is the important principle.
There are certainly families today that continue to preserve authentic brahminical traditions. They carefully follow spiritual practices and maintain brahminical standards within the household.
Such a birth is certainly auspicious and favorable.
But even then, good birth alone does not make someone a brahmana.
One must personally accept and live that culture.
Simply being born in a brahmana family is different from actually becoming a qualified brahmana.
Spiritual qualification is different from birth
Consider Ravana.
Ravana possessed many brahminical qualities.
He was highly learned, extraordinarily intelligent, well versed in the Vedas, and deeply knowledgeable in scripture.
Many powerful asuras possessed similar qualifications.
Even Kamsa could quote scripture and philosophically explain that "you are not the body."
Such philosophical knowledge is necessary even for attaining certain mystical powers, because unless one understands that the self is different from the body, higher yogic achievements are difficult.
The body is limiting, whereas the spirit is far more powerful.
To identify oneself with the spirit rather than the body requires a disciplined brahminical lifestyle.
Ravana himself was also a great worshiper of Lord Shiva.
Yet despite all these qualifications, he was not a devotee of Krishna.
This shows that material learning, austerity, mystical power, and even brahminical qualities alone are not sufficient.
Without devotion to Krishna, they do not lead to perfection.
Mental strength is also different from spiritual realization
Even in more recent history we find examples of extraordinary mental strength.
For example, it is said that during a medical operation, Stalin reportedly instructed the doctors not to administer anesthesia and to proceed with the surgery.
Whether or not every historical detail is accurate, the point is that some individuals develop remarkable mental control.
This demonstrates that there is a difference between:
gross physical strength,
subtle mental strength,
and genuine spiritual realization.
The subtle mind is more powerful than the gross body, but spiritual realization is higher than both.
Similarly, many powerful personalities in previous ages—including demons—developed tremendous austerity, discipline, and extraordinary abilities.
But without Krishna consciousness, those qualifications remained incomplete.
Therefore, while favorable birth and culture are valuable assets, real spiritual superiority ultimately depends upon genuine devotional service and Krishna consciousness, not merely one's birth or lineage.
