法華玄論 5.90

5.90

答：辟支出無佛世時，此是正法已盡乃至亦無末法，此時眾生根鈍，故無得燸法義耳，非辟支不能令其得道。辟支能化必利而所化必鈍，聲聞能化所化即通也。

Answer: When a pratyekabuddha appears in an era without a buddha, this is when the true Dharma has already ended and there is not even the semblance Dharma; at this time the faculties of sentient beings are dull, and therefore they cannot attain the heating stage—it is not that the pratyekabuddha is incapable of causing them to attain the Path. The pratyekabuddha who converts must be sharp, while those converted must be dull; for the śrāvaka, both the converter and the converted are versatile.