法華經義記 2.37

2.37

As for why it further bases itself on the lowest among the eight hundred disciples to praise Varaprabha's breadth of virtue and clarify that Maitreya ought to question Mañjuśrī: these eight hundred persons were all Mañjuśrī's past disciples, but Maitreya personally was the lowest and most inferior among the eight hundred; now he is a bodhisattva in the stage of succession. Since Maitreya in the past was Mañjuśrī's disciple, for the disciple to question the master is entirely fitting.