大般涅槃經義記 6.342

6.342

解有兩義：一就因辨況，先王過去心念加害、口言勅殺，其罪則重；世王今日心雖念害，口不勅殺，其罪則輕。先王重罪以懺悔故尚得輕受，況王不爾？不同先王口言勅殺而於地獄定受果報。二就果辨況，先王作罪還生愧悔，世王作罪亦生悔心；先王作罪，悔得輕受，不入地獄，以彼況王，何獨不爾，偏於地獄定受果報？

There are two meanings in the explanation: First, analyzing the comparison in terms of the cause: in the past, the former king mentally intended harm and verbally ordered the killing, so his guilt was heavy; King Ajātaśatru today, although mentally intending harm, did not verbally order the killing, so his guilt is light. If the former king's heavy guilt, through repentance, was still received lightly, how much more so for the king, who is not like that? He is unlike the former king who verbally ordered the killing, so how could he definitely receive retribution in hell? Second, analyzing the comparison in terms of the effect: the former king committed a crime and turned to give rise to remorse and repentance; King Ajātaśatru committed a crime and also gave rise to a repentant mind. The former king committed a crime, and through repentance received it lightly without entering hell; comparing him to the king, why should he alone not be so, and instead definitely receive retribution in hell?