大般涅槃經集解 24.38

24.38

案僧亮曰：此下說凡夫。知聲聞志小，自輕己行，若與速記必有深失，下合譬中說其事也。商人譬佛，珠譬得記之行也。市賣者，譬授記之辭也。頗梨珠者，譬生死行也。

Sengliang comments: From here on, ordinary beings are discussed. Knowing that the śrāvakas have petty aspirations and belittle their own practice, if they were given a swift prophecy there would surely be profound faults; this matter is explained below in the application of the simile. The merchant symbolizes the Buddha; the jewel symbolizes the practice of receiving a prophecy; selling in the market symbolizes the words of bestowing a prophecy; the crystal jewel symbolizes the practice of birth and death.