觀無量壽佛經疏 2.34

2.34

Fifth, from 'at that time the great king ate the roasted flour' down to 'confer upon me the eight precepts,' it directly clarifies the father-king requesting the Dharma on account of his confinement. This clarifies that after the queen consort saw the king, she scraped off the ghee and roasted flour from her body, balled it up, and gave it to the king. The king took it and immediately ate it. When eating the roasted flour was finished, the queen consort sought and obtained pure water inside the palace and gave it to the king to rinse his mouth. When rinsing the mouth was finished, he could not let time pass in vain with his mind having nothing to rely upon. Therefore, he devoutly joined his palms, turned his face toward Gṛdhrakūṭa, paid homage to the Tathāgata, and requested divine protection. This clarifies the physical karma of respect, and it also applies to mental karma. From 'and spoke these words' downward, it directly clarifies the vocal karma of requesting, and it also applies to mental karma. In saying 'the great Maudgalyāyana is my close friend,' there are two meanings. When Maudgalyāyana was in worldly life he was the king's special relative; once he went forth, he became the household preceptor, coming and going through the palace halls entirely without obstacle. In worldly life he was a relative, and having gone forth he was called a friend; hence he is called 'close friend.' In saying 'I pray that you arise compassion and confer upon me the eight precepts,' this clarifies that the father-king's feeling of reverence for the Dharma was deep, valuing others above himself. If he had not encountered the calamity of imprisonment, inviting the Buddha and the Saṅgha would not have been difficult. Now that he was imprisoned, there was no way to bring about their coming. Therefore, he only requested Maudgalyāyana to confer the eight precepts upon him.