法華經義記 7.69

7.69

「而說偈言」據師勳報中自有二，第一是長行，此下是第二偈頌。有十五行偈自分為二段：第一有兩行偈義出不頌長行，直漫獎勸時眾受持此經；第二「若有能受持」此下有十三行偈，正頌上長行。但上長行中本有二：一者據別門明師，二者據總門明師。今就此十三偈亦分為二：初有七行頌上第一據別門明師，第二餘有六行偈頌上據總門明師。上別門明師中復有二：一者明現在師，二者佛滅後之師。就七行中亦分為二：前有四行頌現在師，後三行頌滅度後師。就現在世師中本有二種：一者下品，二者上品。今就四偈中初一偈頌下品法師，後三行頌上品法師。但上明下品法師中自有二階：一者正出下品法師勳相，二者報重。今一偈中上半頌正出下品法師勳相，下半頌報重也。「諸有能受持」此下三行，頌上現在中上品法師。上本有二階：一者總況出上品法師勳深，二者別明上品法師勳深。今就此三行中亦復有二：初半偈正頌法師勳深，上言「何況盡能受持」者也；下餘兩半頌上別明勳深。「吾滅後惡世」此下三行，頌上第二明佛滅後法師，此中有二種：一者是下品，二者是上品。今就三行亦分為二，小不次第，初有兩行先頌況出上品，上言「何況於大眾中廣為人說」。上又闕無勳報，今偈中有。此兩偈亦有二階：初半偈頌正況出上品法師，第二從「當合掌禮敬」下有一行半義頌報深。長行所無者，「若能於後世」此下一偈倒頌下品法師。上本又有二階：一者下品師相，二者明勳相。此一行亦有二：初半偈頌第一，下半頌第二。

“And spoke verses, saying:”—in clarifying the masters’ merit and retribution there were naturally two: the first was the prose, and from here below is the second, the verse recitation. There are fifteen lines of verse, naturally divided into two sections: first, there are two lines of verse whose meaning emerges without versifying the prose, directly and broadly encouraging and exhorting the assembly at that time to receptively uphold this sūtra; second, from “If there is one who is able to receptively uphold” below, there are thirteen lines of verse, directly versifying the preceding prose. But in the preceding prose there were originally two: first, clarifying the masters based on the specific gate; second, clarifying the masters based on the general gate. Now, regarding these thirteen verses, they are also divided into two: the first seven lines versify the first [topic] above, clarifying the masters based on the specific gate; the remaining six lines of verse versify the second [topic] above, clarifying the masters based on the general gate. In clarifying the masters based on the specific gate above, there were again two: first, clarifying the masters of the present; second, the masters after the Buddha’s extinction. Within the seven lines, they are also divided into two: the first four lines versify the masters of the present, and the later three lines versify the masters after extinction. Among the masters in the present world, there were originally two kinds: first, the lower-grade; second, the upper-grade. Now, among the four verses, the first verse versifies the lower-grade Dharma master, and the later three lines versify the upper-grade Dharma master. But in the above clarification of the lower-grade Dharma master, there were naturally two stages: first, directly setting forth the marks of merit of the lower-grade Dharma master; second, the weighty retribution. Now, in the single verse, the first half versifies directly setting forth the marks of merit of the lower-grade Dharma master, and the second half versifies the weighty retribution. From “All those who are able to receptively uphold…” below, three lines versify the upper-grade Dharma master among those of the present above. Above, there were originally two stages: first, generally drawing a comparison to bring out the profound merit of the upper-grade Dharma master; second, specifically clarifying the profound merit of the upper-grade Dharma master. Now, within these three lines there are also two: the first half-verse directly versifies the profound merit of the Dharma master, corresponding to the above statement “how much more so those who are fully able to receptively uphold”; the remaining two and a half [verses] below versify the above specific clarification of profound merit. From “In the evil age after my extinction…” below, three lines versify the second [topic] above, clarifying the Dharma masters after the Buddha’s extinction; here there are two kinds: first is the lower-grade, second is the upper-grade. Now, these three lines are also divided into two, slightly out of sequence: the first two lines first versify drawing a comparison to bring out the upper-grade, corresponding to the above statement “how much more so to speak broadly for people amidst a great assembly!”. Above, it also lacked merit and retribution, which now appear in the verses. These two verses also have two stages: the first half-verse versifies directly drawing a comparison to bring out the upper-grade Dharma master; second, from “Should join palms and pay reverent homage” below, there is one and a half lines in meaning versifying the profound retribution. What was absent in the prose: from “If one is able in the later age…” below, one verse versifies the lower-grade Dharma master in reverse order. Above, there were again two stages: first, the marks of the lower-grade master; second, clarifying the marks of merit. This single line [of verse] also has two: the first half-verse versifies the first, and the second half versifies the second.