The great multitude at that time included Śrāvakas. [They also included] Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya, and other Arhats, twelve hundred altogether, who had already eliminated āsravas. [They also included] the bhikṣus, bhikṣunīs, upāsakās, and upāsikās, [that is, the four kinds of devotees] who had already aspired for Śrāvakahood or Pratyekabuddhahood. All of them thought:

“Why does the World-Honored One extol so enthusiastically the power of the Buddhas to employ expedients?”

The reason that [the Buddha] until now ceased to speak is to stop their doubts. But more doubts arose in those ignorant [of the Buddha’s true goal]. These voice hearers have heard the Buddha praising highly this path as being so profound, but they are far from realizing where his purport lies.