大般涅槃經集解 9.38

9.38

案僧宗曰：將欲答難，先舉譬也。國王譬佛，大臣譬通法菩薩，諸子譬四眾，端正譬得理之解不偏也。寶亮曰：明如來以四部弟子付弘法之人，教成就也。假令三部弟子不從誨喻、不盡成道，而餘有一眾，不可以少欲而不治也。所以不得罪者，有二意：一無有惡心、二明運慈故也。

Sengzong comments: Intending to answer the objection, he first raises a simile. The king represents the Buddha, the ministers represent the bodhisattvas who understand the Dharma, the sons represent the four assemblies, and being handsome and well-formed represents understanding of the principle that is impartial. Baoliang comments: It shows that the Tathāgata entrusts the four classes of disciples to those who propagate the Dharma to instruct and bring them to completion. Even supposing that three classes of disciples do not follow the instruction and do not fully attain the Way, yet there remains one assembly, and one cannot refrain from punishing them out of few desires. The reason they do not incur guilt has two meanings: first, having no malicious mind; second, revealing the operation of benevolence.