大般涅槃經疏 33.6

33.6

次「犢子言」下，正論義。既無自執，但問正義。於中二：先問法、次問人。初問法中二：先問、次佛答。答中又二：先許、次正答三種十種。於中先雙釋、次雙結。於釋中云解脫欲者，此是無貪善根。次問能修善斷惑之人者，其欲修習先訪其人，若有高例我亦隨修。此中但問出家二眾，兼得四眾。斷一切有者，此明羅漢即出家二眾。得阿那含者，即問在家二眾。度疑彼岸者，少分稱得度。此中再明優婆塞者，有離欲者、有妻子者。文云受五欲樂而心無疑網者是。佛皆答非一二三乃至五百者何？如《大品》明大數五千分，然諸經中多明五百弟子，此是數方之言。

Next, from "The Vātsīputrīya said" onward is the debate on doctrines proper. Since he has no personal dogmatism, he merely asks about the correct doctrine. Herein there are two [parts]: first, he asks about the teachings; second, he asks about the persons. In the first, asking about the teachings, there are two [parts]: first he asks, then the Buddha replies. In the reply there are also two [parts]: first he assents, then he directly answers the three kinds and the ten kinds. Herein, he first explains both, and then concludes both. Where it says in the explanation "liberation from desire", this is the root of goodness of non-attachment. In the next [part], asking about the persons who are able to cultivate goodness and sever defilements: one who wishes to cultivate and practice first inquires about those persons, [thinking,] "If there are noble examples, I too shall cultivate in accordance [with them]." Here, he merely asks about the two renunciant assemblies, while implicitly encompassing the four assemblies. "Severing all becoming": this clarifies the arhat, who belongs to the two renunciant assemblies. "Attaining [the stage of] non-returner (anāgāmin)": this inquires about the two lay assemblies. "Crossing over to the other shore of doubt": even a minor degree is called having attained crossing over. Clarifying upāsakas twice here refers to those who are free of desire and those who have wives and children. Where the text says "enjoying the pleasures of the five desires yet having no net of doubt in the mind", this refers to them. Why does the Buddha answer for all [groups] that there are not merely one, two, three, up to five hundred? As the Pañcaviṃśati clarifies a large count of five thousand parts, yet throughout the sūtras five hundred disciples are frequently clarified, this is a colloquial phrasing for enumeration.