四分律行事鈔資持記 3.638

3.638

三中，初敘禮壞。上二句通示。移謂遷變，淡謂浮薄。次六句別釋。鄙謂庸惡，末謂卑下；輒為領袖，故參眾首。眉謂尤眉，壽即高臘；反相欺壓，故在下行。武力，謂恃勢陵物之者。文華，謂世俗文筆之流。上四句，敘坐次乖道；下二句，明推舉同俗。彼時尚爾，況今衰末，不足怪矣。如下，結歎生起。提引者，即指當篇明誡者，乃彰垂訓。

In the third section, it first recounts the decay of etiquette. The first two lines broadly indicate it: "shifting" means changing; "diluted" means superficial and frivolous. The next six lines explain it specifically. "Base" means mediocre and wicked; "last" means lowly and inferior; yet they rashly act as leaders, hence they take part at the head of the assembly. "Eyebrows" means prominent brows, and "longevity" means many rains retreats; yet they are conversely oppressed and thus placed in the lower ranks. "Military might" refers to those who rely on power to bully others. "Literary elegance" refers to the class of secular literary writers. The first four lines narrate how seating order goes against the Path; the last two lines clarify that selections and promotions conform to secular ways. It was already like this in those times, so how much more so in the present age of decline! It is not at all surprising. The lines beginning with "As follows..." conclude with a lament and introduce what follows. "Pointing out and guiding" refers to the clear admonitions in this chapter, manifesting the transmitted instructions.