法華義疏 4.225

4.225

依《智度論》云「梵王初請說法，如來云佛法甚深眾生鈍根，違請不說。次梵王陳眾生有上中下根重請說法，佛受其重請故說三乘」。就文亦三：第一、明照眾生根性；二、正說三乘教；三、稟教得益。則生後三車化子得譬也。

Relying on the *Dazhidu lun*, it states: "When the Brahmā King initially requested the preaching of the Dharma, the Tathāgata said that the Buddha-Dharma is extremely profound while sentient beings have dull faculties; going against the request, he did not preach. Next, the Brahmā King explained that sentient beings have superior, middling, and inferior faculties, and repeatedly requested the preaching of the Dharma. The Buddha accepted his repeated request and therefore preached the triyāna." In the text there are also three parts: first, clarifying his illumination of the faculties and natures of sentient beings; second, directly preaching the teaching of the triyāna; third, receiving the teaching and obtaining the benefit. This gives rise to the later parable of transforming the children through the three carriages.