法華經義記 5.18

5.18

「是時長者而作是念」此下有七行半偈，頌上第四長者以三車救子得譬。但上譬中本有四段，第一以三車擬宜，二者見子有宿好之心，三者為說三車，四者諸子受行。今此中略不頌第二見子宿好，上言「父知諸子先心各有所好奇異之物情必樂著」也。今七行半中分為三段，頌上三段。初三行先頌第一三車擬宜，次三行超頌第三為說三車，次一行半頌第四諸子受行也。今「爾時長者而作是念」下三行頌第一三車擬宜，即是「爾時長者即作是念，此舍已為大火所燒」下是也。「告諸子等」此下三行即是超頌第三為說三車，上說三車中本有四階，今三行具足頌之：一行頌第一，三句頌第二，又三句頌第三，半行頌第四也。今「告諸子等」一行即頌第一讚歎三車，上言「而告之言汝等所可玩好希有難得，汝若不取後必憂悔」也。次「羊車鹿車」此下三句即頌第二階示三車處，上言「如此種種羊鹿牛車今在門外」也。「汝等出來」又有三句，即頌上第三勸取三車，上言「汝等於此火宅宜速出來」也。次「隨意所樂可以遊戲」，此半行即頌上第四保與不虛，上言「隨汝所欲皆當與汝」也。「諸子聞說如此諸車」此下一行半，頌第四諸子受行，上受行中本有四階，今唯頌三階，略不頌第二互相推排也。初「諸子聞說如此諸車」此半行，先頌「心各勇銳」外凡夫行也。「即時奔競馳走」此六字，即頌「競共馳走」見諦思惟修道行也。「而出」下半行二字，即頌「諍出火宅」得無學果也。又解云：略不頌前二，唯頌後二也。

From “At that time the elder had this thought” downward, there are seven and a half verses, which versify the fourth parable above, of the elder rescuing the sons by means of the three carts. In the parable above there were originally four sections: first, tentative adaptation by means of the three carts; second, seeing that the sons had predispositions toward past preferences; third, speaking of the three carts for their sake; fourth, the sons receptively practicing. Here it omits versifying the second, seeing the sons’ past preferences, where it said above: “The father knew that in their past minds his sons each had things they fancied and found curious, which their feelings were sure to delight in and cling to.” The seven and a half verses are now divided into three sections to versify the three sections above: the first three verses first versify the first, tentative adaptation with the three carts; the next three verses skip ahead to versify the third, speaking of the three carts; the next verse and a half versifies the fourth, the sons receptively practicing. Now, downward from “At that time the elder had this thought”, the three verses versify the first, tentative adaptation with the three carts, which is [the passage] downward from “At that time the elder then had this thought: ‘This house is already being burned by a great fire’”. Downward from “Telling the sons”, these three verses skip ahead to versify the third, speaking of the three carts. In speaking of the three carts above, there were originally four steps, and now the three verses fully versify them: one verse versifies the first, three lines versify the second, another three lines versify the third, and a half-verse versifies the fourth. Now, the single verse “Telling the sons” versifies the first, praising the three carts, where it said above: “and told them: ‘The playthings you fancy are rare and hard to obtain; if you do not take them, you will surely regret it later’”. Next, downward from “goat carts, deer carts”, these three lines versify the second step, showing the location of the three carts, where it said above: “Such various goat, deer, and ox carts are now outside the gate.” “Come out, all of you”—there are another three lines, which versify the third above, exhorting them to take the three carts, where it said above: “You should quickly come out of this burning house.” Next, “You may play with them as you please”—this half-verse versifies the fourth above, the guarantee that giving them is not in vain, where it said above: “Whatever you desire shall all be given to you.” From “The sons, hearing him speak of such carts” downward, the verse and a half versifies the fourth, the sons receptively practicing. In the receptive practice above there were originally four steps; now it only versifies three steps, omitting the second, pushing and jostling one another. First, the half-verse “The sons, hearing him speak of such carts” first versifies “each energetic and eager in mind”, the practice of external ordinary persons. The six characters “immediately raced and scurried, running” versify “vying with one another to run”, the practice of the path of seeing the truth and cultivating the path. The two characters “and emerged” in the following half-verse versify “scrambling out of the burning house”, attaining the fruit of the non-learner. Another explanation says: it omits the first two and only versifies the latter two.