法華經義記 3.19

3.19

但六行半頌長行中本有三：一者疑諸佛二智、二者疊疑眾請說、三者疑釋迦實智。今者六行半中兩行半先頌第三段，次一行追頌第一，次三行頌第二段也。初有兩行半偈先頌第三段釋迦二智，今「慧日大聖尊久乃說是法」，此下一行半偈正頌疑釋迦實智也。從「道場所得法」此一偈義頌疑上權智，疑言何故稱歎此智而不說也。「無問而自說」，此一偈是第二，倒頌上第一言「何故慇懃稱歎諸佛第一方便甚深微妙難解之法」，但長行不出諸佛往因，今此一偈上半長出往因，下半偈正頌也。「無漏諸羅漢及求涅槃者」，此下三行偈是第三，追頌上第二疊疑眾請說，上言「我自昔來未曾從佛聞如是法」，今者四眾咸皆有疑，故知此三行正頌。上有二，初偈舉聲聞請說，第二「其求緣覺者」下兩偈舉緣覺人請說也。「於諸聲聞眾佛說我第一」，此下四行半偈是偈中之第二，詺為直說偈自疑所得。此四行半自有二：第一「於諸聲聞眾佛說我第一」，此下一行半偈正明舍利弗自疑所得，為定是因、為定是果也。第二從「佛口所生子」下三行偈正結請說也。「爾時佛告舍利弗止止不須復說」，此下是第二段，第一止止，意言若便廣說此二智者，時眾相與生驚疑之心，為是義故不須復說也。

However, within the six and a half stanzas versifying the prose, there were originally three parts: first, doubting the two knowledges of all buddhas; second, reiterating the assembly’s doubt to request the exposition; third, doubting Śākya’s real knowledge. Now, within the six and a half stanzas, two and a half stanzas first versify the third section, the next one stanza retroactively versifies the first section, and the next three stanzas versify the second section. The initial two and a half stanzas first versify the third section, Śākya’s two knowledges. Now, “The Great Holy Honoured One, Sun of Wisdom, has after a long time preached this dharma,” this following one and a half stanzas directly versifies the doubt regarding Śākya’s real knowledge. From “The dharma attained at the place of awakening,” this one stanza versifies the doubt regarding the above expedient knowledge, doubting why this knowledge was praised yet not spoken. “Spontaneously expounded without being asked,” this one stanza is the second part, versifying in reverse order the first part above: “For what reason do you earnestly praise the foremost skilful means, the profound, subtle, and difficult-to-understand dharma of all buddhas?” However, the prose did not bring out the past causes of all buddhas; now the upper half of this one stanza extensively brings out the past causes, and the lower half-stanza directly versifies it. “The unblemished arhats and those seeking nirvāṇa,” these following three stanzas are the third part, retroactively versifying the second part above which reiterated the assembly’s doubt to request the exposition; above it said: “From the past until now, I have never heard such a dharma from the Buddha; now the fourfold assembly all have doubts,” hence we know these three stanzas directly versify this. Above there were two: the initial stanza adduces the śrāvakas requesting the exposition; the second, from “Those who seek [the path of] pratyekabuddhas” down, two stanzas adduce the pratyekabuddhas requesting the exposition. “Among the assembly of śrāvakas, the Buddha declared me foremost,” these following four and a half stanzas are the second part of the verses, designated the verses of direct statement regarding his own doubt over what he attained. These four and a half stanzas themselves have two parts: first, “Among the assembly of śrāvakas, the Buddha declared me foremost,” this following one and a half stanzas directly clarifies Śāriputra’s own doubt over what he attained, whether it is definitively a cause or definitively a fruit. Second, from “Sons born from the Buddha’s mouth” down, three stanzas directly conclude the request for exposition. “At that time the Buddha addressed Śāriputra: ‘Stop, stop! There is no need to speak further,’” from here down is the second section, the first refusal: the meaning is that if he were to expound these two knowledges at length, the assembly at that time would mutually give rise to astonishment and doubt; for this reason there is no need to speak further.