仁王經疏 1.38

1.38

Question: The Buddha possesses ten epithets of virtue; why did the Tathāgata instruct transmitters of the Dharma to place only this name 'Bhagavat' at the beginning of all sūtras? Answer: Because this single name is revered by all the world; thus the non-Buddhists all refer to their own masters as 'Bhagavat'. Furthermore, this single name subsumes all virtues, whereas other names do not; therefore, this name is placed at the beginning of sūtras. The *Vajrarṣi-śāstra* also agrees with the *Buddhabhūmi-śāstra* in explaining 'Bhagavat' at length, as at the beginning of the *Nirvāṇa-sūtra* and in the *Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa*. Third, according to Paramārtha, both 'Buddha' and 'Bhagavat' are to be set down together at the beginning of all sūtras. Thus the *Qishi ji* states: "There are four alternatives regarding 'Buddha' and 'Bhagavat': 1. One who is a Buddha but not a Bhagavat: this refers to the two vehicles of the śrāvakas, who contemplate conventional truth and realize nirvāṇa without remainder; in their own rank they obtain the name 'Buddha', but because they do not cultivate virtuous practices, they are not 'Bhagavat'. 2. One who is a Bhagavat but not a Buddha: this is the bodhisattva, who is called 'Bhagavat' because of cultivating virtues; but since they are in the causal stage and their wisdom is not yet perfected, they cannot be called 'Buddha'. 3. One who is neither a Buddha nor a Bhagavat: this is the ordinary person, who is not a Bhagavat because of not cultivating virtues, and not called Buddha because of not cultivating wisdom. 4. One who is both a Buddha and a Bhagavat: this is the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, who is called 'Buddha' because his wisdom is perfected, and is 'Bhagavat' because his virtues are complete. If one only says 'Buddha', there is fear of confusing him with the two vehicles; if one only says 'Bhagavat', there is fear of confusing him with bodhisattvas and wheel-turning kings. If they are spoken together, it refers to the Tathāgata; therefore, both titles are set down at the beginning of all sūtras." Although there are these three interpretations, we now follow this sūtra in agreeing with the *Tattvasiddhi-śāstra*, naming only "Buddha".