大般涅槃經義記 9.259

9.259

就初段中，先舉喻相、後約顯法。喻中，先舉、次列、後辨。法中，初言「涅槃河中有七眾生」合初總前〈師子〉中宣說生死以為恒河。此說涅槃經法為、河生死為水，經中所說從凡至佛為七眾生。「皆是水性」喻不離性。

In the first section, it first presents the characteristics of the simile and afterward reveals the Dharma according to them. In the simile, it first mentions [them], next enumerates [them], and afterward explains [them]. In the Dharma, the initial statement that "in the river of nirvāṇa there are seven sentient beings" matches the initial general statement in the preceding "Siṃhanāda" [chapter], which proclaimed that saṃsāra is the Ganges River. Here it states that the Dharma of the nirvāṇa sūtra is the river, saṃsāra is the water, and what is described in the sūtra from ordinary beings to buddhas constitutes the seven sentient beings. "They are all of the nature of water" illustrates their not being separate from the nature.