Very well said by ishwa.
Just see a bright example from Chhandogya Upanishad:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Once upon a time Satyakama Jabala addressed his mother Jabala, âMother, I desire to live the life of a brahmacharin student of sacred knowledge in the teacherâs house. Of what lineage am I ?â
She said to him, âMy child, I do not know of what lineage you are. I, who was engaged in many works and in attending on others, got you in my youth. Having been such I could not know of what lineage you are. However, I am Jabala by name and you are named Satyakama. So you speak of yourself only as Satyakama Jabala.â
He went to Haridrumata Gautama and said, âI desire to live under you, revered sir, as a Brahmacharin; may I approach your venerable self (for the same) ?â
Gautama asked him, âDear boy, of what lineage are you ?â He replied, âSir, I do not know of what lineage I am. I asked my mother; she replied, âI, who was engaged in many works and in attending on others, got you in my youth. Having been such, I could not know of what lineage you are. However, I am Jabala by name and you are named Satyakamaâ. So, sir, I am Satyakama Jabala.â
<span style='color:red'>The teacher said to him, âNo one who is not a Brahmana can speak thus. Dear boy, bring the sacrificial fuel, I shall initiate you as a Brahmacharin, for you have not deviated from truthâ.</span>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This shows that sages did not insist upon the Varna of birth and lineage etc, but rather looked at the guNa and prakRti of the candidate and accordingly accepted them. This student Satyakama Jabala would indeed prove a great sage himself.
Just see a bright example from Chhandogya Upanishad:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Once upon a time Satyakama Jabala addressed his mother Jabala, âMother, I desire to live the life of a brahmacharin student of sacred knowledge in the teacherâs house. Of what lineage am I ?â
She said to him, âMy child, I do not know of what lineage you are. I, who was engaged in many works and in attending on others, got you in my youth. Having been such I could not know of what lineage you are. However, I am Jabala by name and you are named Satyakama. So you speak of yourself only as Satyakama Jabala.â
He went to Haridrumata Gautama and said, âI desire to live under you, revered sir, as a Brahmacharin; may I approach your venerable self (for the same) ?â
Gautama asked him, âDear boy, of what lineage are you ?â He replied, âSir, I do not know of what lineage I am. I asked my mother; she replied, âI, who was engaged in many works and in attending on others, got you in my youth. Having been such, I could not know of what lineage you are. However, I am Jabala by name and you are named Satyakamaâ. So, sir, I am Satyakama Jabala.â
<span style='color:red'>The teacher said to him, âNo one who is not a Brahmana can speak thus. Dear boy, bring the sacrificial fuel, I shall initiate you as a Brahmacharin, for you have not deviated from truthâ.</span>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This shows that sages did not insist upon the Varna of birth and lineage etc, but rather looked at the guNa and prakRti of the candidate and accordingly accepted them. This student Satyakama Jabala would indeed prove a great sage himself.