法華經義記 1.81

1.81

「菩薩摩訶薩」，此下是第二列菩薩眾。所以中者，意亦如前也。今就此眾中亦有六段：第一談其人類也，第二敘其數，第三明其階位，第四歎德，第五列名，第六舉類舉數總結也。今言「菩薩摩訶薩」者，先談其人類是大乘人類也。若具存外國名，應云摩訶菩提薩埵。譯摩訶言大，菩提稱道，薩埵云心，言大道心人也。夫稱大道心人，必有二義：一長二廣。遠求佛果不中途取證，此心曰長；發意兼濟，此心稱廣。然二乘不逮，貶其狹短有謝菩薩也。

"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas": from here begins the second part, listing the assembly of bodhisattvas. The reason they are in the middle has the same meaning as before. Now within this assembly there are also six sections: first, discussing their category of being; second, describing their number; third, clarifying their stage; fourth, praising their virtues; fifth, listing their names; sixth, citing their category and number in a summary conclusion. Now, in saying "bodhisattva-mahāsattvas", it first discusses their category of being as that of the Great Vehicle. If preserved fully in the foreign name, it would be mahā-bodhi-sattva. Translating it: "mahā" means great, "bodhi" is called the path, and "sattva" means mind; this refers to "a person with the great mind for the path". Now, to be called a person with the great mind for the path necessarily entails two meanings: first, long; second, broad. Seeking the Buddha-fruit from afar without attaining realization halfway, this mind is called 'long'; generating the intention to universally rescue others, this mind is called 'broad'. However, the two vehicles do not reach this; disparaged for being narrow and short, they fall short of the bodhisattva.