“[According to the Vedic scriptures,] only vipras or brāhmaṇas are allowed to function as sacrificial priests to conduct sacrifices and caṇḍālas are not fit to be sponsors of such sacrifices. Why would the demigods eat the sacrificial offerings? Why would the sages eat the desired remnants of the sacrificial offerings?” This is what Vasiṣṭha’s sons and Mahodaya thought.

NOTE. We note here the misconception that a brāhmaṇa is one who is born to a brāhmaṇa. (Viśvāmitra was born as a kṣatriya.)

Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies the subject, “The social institution known as varṇāśrama-dharma—the institution dividing society into four divisions of spiritual life and four occupational divisions or castes—is not meant to divide human society according to birth. Such divisions are in terms of educational qualifications. They are to keep the society in a state of peace and prosperity.” (Bhagavad-gītā 16.1-3 purport)