觀無量壽佛經義疏 2.31

2.31

"At that time, Ajātaśatru was frightened and terrified, and said to Jīva, 'Are you not on my side?' Jīva said, 'Great King! Be careful not to harm your mother.' Hearing these words, the King repented and pleaded for rescue, whereupon he cast aside his sword, stopped, and did not harm his mother. He commanded his inner palace attendants: 'Confine her in the deep palace, and do not let her come out again.'" King Ajātaśatru was terrified that if the worthy ministers left the state, the altars of the land and grain would surely be in peril. "Are you not on my side?" was an expression pleading for rescue. "On my side" is like assisting. Jīva remonstrated again, and the King repented and followed his advice, commanding that she be confined in the deep palace, which is the root cause from which [the teaching] arose. Second, earnestly entreating the Buddha, in three parts: first, suffering distress and thinking of the Dharma; second, stating her words to make the request; third, sorrowfully paying homage and entreating. First, suffering distress and thinking of the Dharma, paying homage from afar to express veneration.