妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.97

4.97

緣起有三相：一因請而說，二因犯制戒，三因事說法。《對法論》云：「因緣者，謂因請而說，又有因緣制立學處」，即初二義名為緣起。《涅槃經》言：「如諸經偈所因根本。如舍衛國有一丈夫，羅網捕鳥得已還放，世尊知其本末因緣而說偈言：『莫輕小罪，　以為無殃，　水渧雖微，　漸盈大器。』是名緣起。」即是第三因事說法。

Nidānas have three characteristics: first, spoken due to a request; second, precepts formulated due to an offense; third, Dharma taught due to an event. The *Abhidharmasamuccaya* says: 'Conditions (nidāna) refers to being spoken due to a request, and also having conditions under which training rules are formulated'—these first two meanings are called nidāna. The *Nirvāṇa-sūtra* says: 'Such as the fundamental basis of verses in various sūtras. For instance, in the country of Śrāvastī there was a man who trapped birds with a net, caught them, and released them again; the Bhagavat, knowing the original circumstances of his causes and conditions, spoke a verse saying: "Do not slight a small sin, / thinking it will bring no disaster; / though water drops are tiny, / they gradually fill a large vessel." This is called nidāna.' This is the third, Dharma taught due to an event.