觀無量壽佛經疏 2.47

2.47

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.'