觀無量壽佛經疏 2.52

2.52

Third, from 'At that time Ajātaśatru, having heard these words' down to 'wished to kill his mother', clearly explains the king's wrath. This explains that after King Ajātaśatru heard the gatekeepers' explanation, he immediately conceived evil wrath in his mind against the lady and uttered evil words with his mouth. Furthermore, he gave rise to the rebellious acts of the three karmas and the evils of the three karmas. Cursing one's father and mother as bandits is called verbal karma of rebellion. Cursing the monks is called verbal karma of evil. Grasping a sword to kill one's mother is called physical karma of rebellion. What is done by body and speech takes mind as its master; thus it is called mental karma of rebellion. Moreover, the preceding expedients are evil, and the subsequent actual deed is rebellion. The words from 'My mother is a bandit' downward clearly explain the evil words proceeding from his mouth. Why does he curse his mother as a bandit? She is a companion of bandits. Ajātaśatru's original intent was directed in resentment against his father, regretting that he did not pass away sooner. The mother, however, secretly brought rations to him and thereby kept him from dying. Therefore he cursed her, saying, 'My mother is a bandit, a companion of bandits!' The words from 'The monks are evil men' downward explain that Ajātaśatru was enraged that his mother brought food, and further hearing that the monks came and went to the king, this caused his wrathful mind to flare up all the more. Thus he said: 'What incantations do they possess that they have kept the wicked king from dying for so many days?' The words from 'He then grasped a sharp sword' downward explain that the king's wrath was intense, and his rebellion extended to his mother. How painful it was! Grasping her by the hair, he raised his sword; her physical life was poised on an instant. The loving mother joined her palms, bent her body, lowered her head, and yielded to her son's hand. At that time, hot sweat poured all over the lady's body, and her mind swooned. Alas, how sorrowful! In an instant, she met with such distress and tribulation.