法華經義記 7.35

7.35

「是諸沙彌等」此下有二十七行頌上第二正結緣。上長行中本有二，一者法說，二者譬說。今二十七行中初有八行頌第一法說，次「譬如險惡道」下有十九行頌第二譬說也。上法說中本有三：第一明昔日結緣，第二明結括釋迦始終教化大意，第三明今日相值。今八行中初三行頌第一昔日結緣，次有四行頌第二結括大意，次一行頌第三今日相值也。但上第一昔日結緣中本有四，今前三行之中初半行頌第一階得覆述之意，次「為無量億眾」下一行半頌第二正結緣，次「一一沙彌等」下有一行頌第三感悟不同，不頌第四大通智勝佛歎王子所說也。「彼佛滅度後」此下四行頌第二結括大意。上有四段，初一行頌第一常相值也。次「是十六沙彌」一行頌第二，十六王子已成佛也。次「爾時聞法者」一行超頌第四未來復得相值也。次「我在十六數」下一行追頌第三會通古今也。次「以是本因緣」此一行頌第三今日相值。上本有四段，第一明大乘機發，第二明說《法華》，第三義出以大乘擬宜不得，第四明以小乘化得也。今唯頌第二便集諸菩薩明說《法華》也。

From "These novices and others" below, there are twenty-seven lines of verse that versify the second [section] above, directly forming the connection. In the prose above there were originally two parts: first, the exposition by dharma; second, the exposition by parable. Here, among the twenty-seven lines, the first eight lines versify the first, the exposition by dharma; next, from "Just like a perilous, evil road" below, nineteen lines versify the second, the exposition by parable. In the exposition by dharma above there were originally three parts: first, clarifying the forming of the connection in past times; second, clarifying the summarizing of the general import of Śākya's teaching from beginning to end; third, clarifying the meeting together today. Here, among the eight lines, the first three lines versify the first, the forming of the connection in past times; next, four lines versify the second, summarizing the general import; next, one line versifies the third, the meeting together today. However, in the first [part] above, the forming of the connection in past times, there were originally four [sections]: here, within the first three lines, the first half-line versifies the intention of the first stage of attaining the retelling; next, from "For immeasurable billions of multitudes" below, one and a half lines versify the second, directly forming the connection; next, from "Each novice and the others" below, one line versifies the third, their different awakenings, omitting the fourth, Great Penetrating Omniscient Victory Buddha's praise of what the princes said. From "After that Buddha crossed over into extinction" below, four lines versify the second, summarizing the general import. Above there were four sections: the first line versifies the first, constantly meeting together; next, one line of "These sixteen novices" versifies the second, that the sixteen princes have already become Buddhas; next, one line of "Those who at that time heard the Dharma" leaps ahead to versify the fourth, being able to meet together again in the future; next, one line from "I was among the number of the sixteen" below traces back to versify the third, bringing together and connecting past and present; next, this one line of "By these original causes and conditions" versifies the third, the meeting together today. In the prose above there were originally four sections: first, clarifying the emergence of the capacity for the Great [Vehicle]; second, clarifying the preaching of the Lotus Sūtra; third, expressing the meaning that tentative adaptation with the Great [Vehicle] was unsuccessful; fourth, clarifying that conversion was accomplished through the Lesser Vehicle. Here it only versifies the second, assembling all the bodhisattvas to clarify the preaching of the Lotus Sūtra.