大般涅槃經義記 9.156

9.156

三知生斷多少之義。於中如來先取地土反問迦葉，迦葉次答，下佛約之以顯生斷多少之義。句別有四：一知未來趣善者少、二知未來向惡者多、三「護持」下知其現在修善者少、四「毀戒」下知其現在作惡者多。

Third, knowing the meaning of the quantity of arising and severing. Within this, the Tathāgata first takes up soil from the ground and questions Kāśyapa in return; Kāśyapa then answers; below, the Buddha applies this to reveal the meaning of the quantity of arising and severing. There are four distinct clauses: First, knowing that those who will advance toward good in the future are few; second, knowing that those who will head toward evil in the future are many; third, from "protect and maintain" onward, knowing that those who cultivate good at present are few; fourth, from "break the precepts" onward, knowing that those who do evil at present are many.