菩薩戒本疏 2.33

2.33

見思具事不無漸習，為深防故制。即是於諸學處正行防守，舉離惡事成攝善也。大小俱制、道俗共禁，必是貴人、王、王子等欲防外難，備弓箭等理應開之，但不得至傷害也。又雖非貴人，若欲護法備器杖防無害心者，亦應開之。《涅槃經》中在家人為欲護法故聽持器杖，但不得至殺，釋文易了。

Seeing and thinking of weapons inevitably leads to gradual habituation; hence it was prohibited for thorough prevention. That is, it is the correct practice and guarding of the various śikṣāpadas, highlighting the abandonment of evil deeds to accomplish the accumulation of good. It is prohibited for both the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna, forbidden to both monastics and laity. If noble persons, kings, princes, and the like wish to defend against external dangers and prepare bows and arrows, it should reasonably be permitted, but they must not reach the point of harming or killing. Furthermore, even if one is not a noble person, if one wishes to protect the Dharma and prepares weapons for defense without the mind to harm, it should also be permitted. In the Nirvāṇa-sūtra, householders are permitted to hold weapons for the sake of protecting the Dharma, but they must not reach the point of killing; the explanation of the text is easy to understand.