大般涅槃經義記 6.313

6.313

In the third section, first it explains that King Ajātaśatru hears two statements on the road and gives rise to panic and terror; from "The Buddha addressed..." onward, the Tathāgata promises to make his mind resolute. In the former, first it explains that on the road he hears two statements: hearing that King Virūḍhaka encountered fire and burned to death, and that the monk Kokālika entered Avīci alive—this is one statement. That King Virūḍhaka murdered his father, and hearing the Buddha's prophecy that he would be burned to death, he then took a boat into the sea of the rear park to evade it, but the fire of Avīci straightaway sucked him down into the sea and took him away. The monk Kokālika was a disciple of Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana; at one time he slandered these two masters, committing grave offenses against both, and therefore entered Avīci. Hearing that Sunakkhatta approached the Buddha and had his offenses eradicated is the second statement. From "I now..." onward explains the king's panic and terror, begging to ride the same elephant as Jīvaka, so that if he should fall, he might seek to be rescued and spared: "If I should fall, I hope you will hold onto me"—first begging, and then explaining.