法華經義記 1.42

1.42

今且就列聲聞眾中自有兩段：第一、意學無學二千人以來，先列聲聞比丘眾僧也。第二、從「摩訶波闍波提」下竟「耶輸陀羅」，此則列聲聞比丘尼眾也。所以有此兩段者，為欲取男女尊卑兩別也。又就僧尼兩眾之中，各有二段。僧眾二者，第一、「與大比丘眾」下竟「大阿羅漢」，詺為有名聞眾。何以知然？此一萬二千比丘常隨如來處處說法，天上人間殊方異國遠近知聞，詺為有名聞眾也。第二、從「復有學無學二千人」以下，詺為小名聞眾，未必常隨如來、不盡為遠近知識也。尼眾亦然，至時當道。

Now, as for the listing of the śrāvaka assembly, there are naturally two sections: first, up to the two thousand learners and non-learners, it first lists the śrāvaka monk assembly. Second, from "Mahāprajāpatī" down to "Yaśodharā", it lists the śrāvaka nun assembly. The reason there are these two sections is to distinguish the genders and their nobility and inferiority. Furthermore, within each of the two assemblies of monks and nuns, there are two sections. For the monk assembly, the two are: first, from "together with the great assembly of monks" down to "great arhats", which is named the assembly of great renown. How is this known? These twelve thousand monks constantly followed the Tathāgata, preaching the Dharma everywhere, known and heard far and wide in heaven and the human world, in different regions and foreign lands; hence it is named the assembly of great renown. Second, from "There were also two thousand learners and non-learners" onward, it is named the assembly of minor renown, for they did not necessarily constantly follow the Tathāgata, nor were they all known far and wide. The nun assembly is likewise, which shall be explained when the time comes.