觀無量壽佛經疏 2.47

2.47

答曰：「此是闍王意密問也。但以萬基之主，舉動不可隨宜。父王既是天性情親，無容言問死。恐失在當時，以成譏過。但以內心標死，口問在者，為欲息永惡逆之聲也。」

Answer: 'This was King Ajātaśatru's covert asking. As sovereign of the myriad realms, his actions could not be careless. The father-king was his natural kin, so it was unacceptable to speak of and ask about death. He feared it would be considered a fault at that time and turn into criticism and blame. Only by marking death in his inner mind while asking with his mouth whether he was alive did he wish to stop the voice of evil rebellion forever.'