大般涅槃經義記 3.69

3.69

自下第二答其後問，明弘護人，先喻、後合。喻中有三：一邊地眾生棄大學小喻、二「有異王」下四依弘化喻、三「其王得」下所化眾生得法修行喻。就初段中，「王」喻邊地匡化之人各有統領，故說為王。身居邊地，名「在深山嶮難之處」。有《涅槃經》名「有甘蔗、粳糧、石蜜」，有而難具，辨得兼失，是故云「雖」。「以其難得，貪惜積聚，不敢噉食」，喻不學大。既在邊地，全部叵備，名為「難得」，如北天竺唯有六卷，不具全部。為名、為利書寫此經，名貪積聚。不能依法自學教他，名不敢食。「懼其有盡，唯食粟稗」，喻明學小。以其殘缺，辨義不周，恐問難通，名懼有盡。專學小乘，名食粟稗。

From here below is the second [part], answering the subsequent question by clarifying the persons who propagate and protect; first is the analogy, and afterward the application. Within the analogy there are three: first, the analogy of sentient beings in the borderlands abandoning the Great and studying the Small; second, from "there is a different king" onward, the analogy of the four refuges propagating and converting; third, from "when that king obtained" onward, the analogy of the converted sentient beings obtaining the Dharma and practicing it. In the first passage, "king" is an analogy for the persons guiding conversion in the borderlands, each having an area of control, hence spoken of as a king. Physically dwelling in a borderland is called "being in a deep mountain, a perilous place." Having the Nirvāṇa Sūtra is called "having sugarcane, nonglutinous rice, and rock honey"; having it yet finding it difficult to have it complete, possessing it together with lacking parts, is therefore why it says "although." "Because it is difficult to obtain, covetously begrudging and hoarding it, not daring to consume it" is an analogy for not studying the Great. Since they are in a borderland, the whole text cannot be provided, which is called "difficult to obtain"—just as in northern India there were only six fascicles, not the complete text. Transcribing this sūtra for fame and gain is called covetously hoarding it. Being unable to study it oneself and teach others according to the Dharma is called not daring to consume it. "Fearing that it will run out, only eating millet and barnyard grass" is an analogy clarifying the study of the Small. Because it is fragmented and incomplete, its analysis of the meanings is not thorough, and fearing that questions will be difficult to resolve is called fearing that it will run out. Exclusively studying the Hīnayāna is called eating millet and barnyard grass.