釋摩訶衍論 1.70

1.70

論曰：繫屬因緣之力故，出興兩重甚深法門。所以者何？於契經中明顯說故，所謂楞伽王契經中作如是說：爾時世尊告文殊師利言：「我念過去無量劫海，於五百世忍辱仙人，在山林中專心修行少欲知足四聖眾種清淨之法。於時有一大蛇從山頂下，來詣我所，聞我所誦，則投其體禮拜懺悔。投體已訖，以頭攢地區區作文而說偈言：

The Commentary states: By the power of the conditions of connection, the two tiers of profound Dharma gateways were brought forth. Why is this? Because it is clearly expounded in a sūtra, namely, in the King of Laṅkā Sūtra it is said: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed Mañjuśrī, saying, "I recall that in an ocean of immeasurable kalpas in the past, for five hundred lifetimes I was an ascetic of patience, single-mindedly practicing the pure Dharma of few desires, contentment, and the four noble lineages in a mountain forest. At that time, a great serpent came down from the mountain summit, approached my dwelling, and hearing what I recited, threw its body down in prostration and repentance. Having thrown down its body, it pressed its head to the ground, painstakingly formed words, and spoke in verse, saying: