大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 21.50

21.50

疏「受報無盡」者，亦純陀事。即三十一經「師子吼菩薩白佛言：『世尊！如佛先告純陀云：「汝今已得見於佛性，得大涅槃阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」是義云何？世尊！如佛所說，施畜生者得百倍報，乃至云施不退菩薩及最後身諸大菩薩、如來世尊所得福報無量無邊不可稱計。此不可思議純陀大士若受如是無量報者，是報無盡，何時當得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提？』」此下廣說施相，下佛答意云：「如向難言，純陀報無盡者，謂世間報體。然業有多種，不必定受，隨人所造愚智等殊。今純陀大智，將此施業唯為菩提及利眾生，云何今受人天之報，不得菩提？況所造業及受果報皆是垂跡，若善若惡非現生後受是業報。」下廣說業有定不定、愚智輕重，一切聖人為壞定業得輕報故，不定之業無果報等則報無盡者，是約世間。今疏為順悉離貧窮，故引世間受報無盡耳，非取彼經師子吼菩薩之難意。

Regarding the commentary's statement "receiving inexhaustible retribution": this also concerns Cunda. That is, in the thirty-first fascicle: "Siṃhanāda Bodhisattva said to the Buddha: 'World-Honoured One! As the Buddha previously told Cunda: "You have now attained the vision of the Buddha-nature and attained great nirvāṇa, anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi." What is the meaning of this? World-Honoured One! As the Buddha has spoken: Giving to animals yields a hundredfold retribution, up to giving to non-retrogressing bodhisattvas, all great bodhisattvas in their final body, and the Tathāgata, the World-Honoured One, the retribution of merit obtained is immeasurable, boundless, and inconceivable. If this inconceivable great being Cunda receives such immeasurable retribution, this retribution will be inexhaustible; when will he attain anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi?'" Below this, the aspects of giving are explained extensively. Below, the Buddha's response means: As raised in your objection just now that Cunda's retribution is inexhaustible, this refers to the substance of worldly retribution. However, karma is of many kinds and is not necessarily experienced definitively; it varies according to the foolishness, wisdom, and so forth of the person who creates it. Now Cunda possesses great wisdom, and has directed this karma of giving solely toward bodhi and benefiting sentient beings; how could he now receive the retribution of humans and devas and not attain bodhi? Furthermore, the karma created and the retribution received are all accommodated traces; whether wholesome or unwholesome, this karmic retribution is not experienced in the present life or subsequent rebirths. Below, it extensively explains that karma is either determinate or indeterminate, foolish or wise, light or heavy; all sages, because of destroying determinate karma, receive light retributions, and indeterminate karma has no fruition, and so on. Thus, retribution being inexhaustible is spoken in terms of the worldly. Now the commentary, in order to accord with "all leaving poverty behind," merely cites the worldly inexhaustible experience of retribution, not adopting the intent of Siṃhanāda Bodhisattva's objection in that sūtra.