大般涅槃經義記 5.386

5.386

下佛答中，先呵難辭，次自勉過，後正解釋。「汝不應言如來為生作煩惱緣」是呵辭也，迦葉向言如來何故罵提婆達癡人、無羞食人，㖒唾令生瞋恨，名為如來作煩惱緣，故牒呵之。

In the Buddha's answer below, he first rebukes the phrasing of the challenge, next clears himself of fault, and afterwards gives the direct explanation. "You should not say that the Tathāgata acts as a condition of affliction for sentient beings" is the rebuke of the phrasing. Kāśyapa said earlier: why did the Tathāgata scold Devadatta as a foolish person and a shameless eater of food, spitting on him and causing him to give rise to anger and hatred?—this was calling it the Tathāgata acting as a condition of affliction; therefore, he quotes it to rebuke it.