觀無量壽佛經疏 2.30

2.30

Third, from 'seized his father the king' down to 'not one was allowed to go [there],' it directly clarifies the father-king being imprisoned by his son. This clarifies that Ajātaśatru adopted Devadatta's evil scheme and abruptly abandoned the affection between father and son; not only did he fail in [repaying] boundless kindness, but the echo of his rebellion filled the roads because of this. Suddenly laying hold of the king's body is called 'seizing' (收); having taken him and not releasing him is called 'holding' (執); hence it is called 'seizing and holding.' The word 'father' distinctly displays the utmost intimacy of kinship. 'King' reveals his status. 'Bimbisāra' reveals his name. As for 'confined in a room behind sevenfold [walls],' because what was done was grave, the matter was also not light. It was impossible to detain him lightly among common people entirely without guards. But as the king's palace halls were, by principle, cut off from outsiders, only the assembly of ministers had served him for a long time. If [Ajātaśatru] did not strictly restrict them, he feared feelings might pass between them. Therefore, he caused internal and external contact to be severed, confining him within sevenfold walls.