肇論新疏 3.288

3.288

初四句舉喻體。三鳥隨舉大中小者。在網為患，出網之時遠近雖殊，皆為無患之域，以喻三乘斷惑出界。不可下，鳥患相望，反責一異。然則下，釋成相即，又不防鳥異。美哉斯喻，何疑不遣。

The first four lines raise the substance of the metaphor. The three birds refer casually to large, medium, and small. Being in the net is affliction; when they escape the net, although their distance differs, all is the realm free from affliction—this illustrates the three vehicles cutting off delusions and leaving the realms of existence. From "One cannot" onwards, looking at birds and affliction in relation to each other, it refutes both oneness and difference. From "Thus" onwards, it explains that they are identical, yet this does not prevent the birds from being distinct. How fine is this metaphor! What doubt does it not dispel?