Visuddhimagga IX-110

Yasmā pana sabbāpetā appamāṇe gocare pavattanti.

（4）其次此等一切（四梵住）是对无量之境而起，

Ñ(IX,110): All of them, however, occur with a measureless scope,

Appamāṇā hi sattā etāsaṃ gocarabhūtā.

因为无量的有情是此等（四梵住）的境界。

Ñ: for their scope is measureless beings;

Ekasattassāpi ca ettake padese mettādayo bhāvetabbāti evaṃ pamāṇaṃ agahetvā sakalapharaṇavaseneva pavattāti.

甚至就一有情说，亦不采取「仅对一部分身而修慈等」的这样限量，须以遍满全身而起（慈等）。

Ñ: and instead of assuming a measure such as 'Lovingkindness, etc., should be developed only towards a single being, or in an area of such an extent', they occur with universal pervasion.

Tena vuttaṃ –

是故说道： [PTS 322]

Ñ: That is why it was said: [322]

Visuddhimaggādivasā catasso,

Hitādiākāravasā panāsaṃ;

Kamo pavattanti ca appamāṇe,

Tā gocare yena tadappamaññāti.

「依清净道等而有四，

依利益等的行相有这样的次序。

对无量之境而起，

故有无量」。

Ñ: 'Their number four is due to paths to purity

And other sets of four, their order to their aim

As welfare and the rest. Their scope is found to be

Immeasurable, so "measureless states" their name'.