The Lotus Sūtra 2.17

2.17

爾時佛告舍利弗：「我先不言：『諸佛世尊以種種因緣、譬喻言辭方便說法，皆為阿耨多羅三藐三菩提耶？』是諸所說，皆為化菩薩故。然，舍利弗！今當復以譬喻更明此義，諸有智者以譬喻得解。

Then the Buddha told Śāriputra: "Did I not say before that the Buddhas, the Bhagavats, teach the Dharma by means of various causes and conditions, parables, and expressions of upāya, all for the sake of anuttarā samyaksambodhi? All these teachings are for the sake of transforming bodhisattvas. However, Śāriputra, I shall now use a parable again to clarify this meaning further, for the wise gain understanding through parables.