Mandukya Karika, verse 4.43

Sanskrit text, IAST transliteration and English translation

अजातेस्त्रसतां तेषामुपलम्भाद्वियन्ति ये ।
जातिदोषा न सेत्स्यन्ति दोषोऽप्यल्पो भविष्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

ajātestrasatāṃ teṣāmupalambhādviyanti ye |
jātidoṣā na setsyanti doṣo'pyalpo bhaviṣyati || 43 ||

43. Those who, being afraid of the truth of absolute non-manifestation, and also on account of their perception (of phenomenal objects), do not admit Ajāti (absolute non-creation), are not much affected by the evil consequent on the belief in causality. The evil effect, if any, is rather insignificant.

Shankara Bhashya (commentary)

Those who on account of their perception (of the phenomenal objects) and attachment¹ to the various duties of caste and other stages of life, shrink from the non-dual and unborn Ātman, and believing in the existence of dual objects, go away from the Self, that is to say, pin their faith to duality,—these people who are thus afraid of the truth of absolute non-manifestation, but who are endowed with faith and who stick to the path² of righteousness, are not³ much affected by the evil results consequent on such belief in causality. For, they also try to follow the path of discrimination. Even if a little blemish attaches to such persons, it is insignificant, being due to their not having realised the Supreme Truth.

Anandagiri Tika (glossary)

This shows the catholicity of Advaita Vedànta which is a sharp contrast to the narrowness of theologians. Advaita Philosophy recognises the value of different religious practices suited to diverse temperaments. The Kārikā further admonishes us not to find fault with others.

¹ Attachment, etc.—See the previous Kārikā.

² Path, etc.—That is to say, those who strictly observe the formal injunctions of religion. These people also, at last, acquire the virtue¹ of discrimination which alone enables one to realise Truth.

³ Not much, etc.—The Gīta also says that a sincere soul which is anxious to realise Truth, surmounts all difficulties. The adherents of religions, if they are sincere and earnest, ultimately acquire those: virtues which enable them to realise Truth.