法華經義記 7.5

7.5

「爾時大目徤連」此下第二更為三聲聞授記。正由已請，是故別為一段。就中自二，第一目連等三聲聞請記，第二如來為三人各授記，即作三階也。

"At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana": below this is the second, further conferring prophecy upon the three voice-hearers. Precisely because they have already requested it, it is made into a separate section. Within it there are two parts: first, the three voice-hearers such as Maudgalyāyana request prophecy; second, the Tathāgata confers prophecy upon each of the three persons, thus forming three stages.