說無垢稱經疏 3.78

3.78

贊曰：此中二句。多過患者，多病患故。四百四病者，一大不調一百一病生，四大不調故有爾病。一大為本，所起為百，此據總數，上多至百、下至一故。或由十十惡業道因，感此四大所起果身，故各成百。十十惡業道者，返其百福莊嚴身故。一自作十惡、二教他作、三讚歎作、四慶慰作、五少分作、六多分作、七全分作、八少時作、九長時作、十盡形作十惡業道，故得果時有此四大，及四大所生各一百病，合名四百四病。如水隧級者，西方水井，如此古人旁穿其井以為近道，近道名隧。級謂階道，以木為蹬級。挹況入出其中取水，年深日久自致朽爛，身亦如是。或級謂級索，日久自朽，身亦如是。舊云「丘井」，乃意難知。

Commentary: Here there are two phrases. "Many faults and perils" means having many sicknesses and afflictions. As for the "four hundred and four sicknesses," when one primary element is discordant, one hundred and one sicknesses arise; because the four primary elements are discordant, there are that many sicknesses. One primary element is the root, and what arises is one hundred; this is stated according to the total count, ranging up to a hundred at most and down to one at least. Or, through the cause of ten times ten evil courses of karma, they induce this resultant body produced by the four primary elements, and thus each amounts to a hundred. The ten times ten evil courses of karma are the opposite of the body adorned with a hundred merits: 1. committing the ten evils oneself; 2. instructing others to commit them; 3. praising the committing of them; 4. rejoicing in the committing of them; 5. committing a minor portion; 6. committing a major portion; 7. committing the complete portion; 8. committing them for a short time; 9. committing them for a long time; 10. committing the courses of ten evil karma for one's whole life. Therefore, when obtaining the result, there are these four primary elements and the one hundred sicknesses produced by each of the four primary elements, combined and named the four hundred and four sicknesses. Regarding "like the steps of a water well-shaft," in the Western regions water wells were like this: the ancients dug beside the well to make a short path, and a short path was called a shaft. "Steps" refers to a flight of stairs, making steps with wood. As one drew water and poured it out, entering and exiting therein to fetch water, with the passage of many days and years it naturally rotted and decayed; the body is also like this. Or, "steps" refers to step-ropes, which naturally rot over time; the body is also like this. The old version said "a well on a hill," the meaning of which was hard to understand.