法華經義記 2.44

2.44

「是德藏菩薩」，此下有一行半，偈頌上第二為德藏授記。上言時有菩薩名曰德藏，正頌此也。「佛此夜滅度」下兩行，頌上第三正明滅度。上言佛授記已，便於中夜入無餘涅槃。但此兩行偈即有二意，前半偈正頌佛滅度，下餘有一行半明起塔供養，是長行所無也。「是妙光法師」，此下一偈頌上第二正明因人流通經同。上言佛滅度後妙光菩薩持《法華經》，但上長行中本有三階，今具頌之。今言「是妙光法師奉持佛法藏」，此半偈明自行，正頌上第一言妙光法師先受持《法華》，即是自行也。「八十小劫中」，此一句正頌上第二劫數。上言滿八十小劫也。「廣宣法華經」，此一句頌上第三正流通經化他之行，上言為人演說也。

"This Bodhisattva Guṇagupta"—the verse and a half from here on versifies the second point above, bestowing prediction upon Guṇagupta. The statement above, "At that time there was a bodhisattva named Guṇagupta," is what this properly versifies. The two verses below "The Buddha this night passed into extinction" versify the third point above, properly explaining parinirvāṇa. The statement above was that after the Buddha bestowed prediction, at midnight he entered nirvāṇa without remainder. But these two verses contain two meanings: the first half-verse properly versifies the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, and the remaining verse and a half below explains erecting stūpas and making offerings, which was absent in the prose. "This Dharma Master Varaprabha"—the one verse from here on versifies the second point above, properly explaining that circulating the sūtra relying on a person corresponds. The statement above was that after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, Bodhisattva Varaprabha upheld the *Lotus Sūtra*. But in the prose above there were originally three stages, and now they are completely versified. Now the statement "This Dharma Master Varaprabha received and upheld the Buddha's treasury of the Dharma" is a half-verse explaining self-practice, properly versifying the first point above that Dharma Master Varaprabha first receptively upheld the *Lotus*, which is self-practice. "During eighty minor kalpas"—this one line properly versifies the second point, the number of kalpas, the statement above being "spanning eighty minor kalpas." "Widely proclaimed the Lotus Sūtra"—this one line versifies the third point, properly circulating the sūtra, which is the practice of converting others, the statement above being "expounded it for others."