俱舍論記 5.211

5.211

「句者至等章」者，此別釋句。即以章釋句。梵云鉢陀，唐言迹，如一象身有四足迹，亦如一頌總四句成，故今就義翻之為句。句能詮義究竟。梵云薄迦（吉何反）唐言章，還是詮義究竟。如說諸行無常等章，由此義同故以章釋句，章即句之異目。問：若依外典，章、句義別，如何以章釋句？解云：方俗不同，此間章、句，句少章多。印度國法，章、句二種俱是詮義究竟，故得以章釋句。

"A phrase (pada) [...] sentences such as": This specifically explains 'phrase' (pada); that is, explaining phrase by sentence (vākya). In Sanskrit it is called pada; in the language of the Tang it is called 'footstep' (jì). Just as the body of one elephant has four footprints, and just as one verse is completed by four lines/padas, so here it is translated according to its meaning as 'phrase' (jù). A phrase can express a meaning to completion. In Sanskrit it is called vākya; in the language of the Tang it is called 'sentence/period' (zhāng), which likewise means expressing a meaning to completion. Such as in the sentences 'anityaḥ sarvasaṃskārāḥ' and so forth. Because this meaning is the same, 'phrase' is explained by 'sentence'; 'sentence' is simply an alternative term for 'phrase.' Question: If according to non-Buddhist texts the meanings of sentence (zhāng) and phrase (jù) are distinct, why explain phrase by sentence? Answer: Regional customs differ. Here, a jù is short and a zhāng is long. In Indian usage, both pada and vākya express a meaning to completion; therefore pada can be explained by vākya.