法華經義記 3.17

3.17

“At that time Śāriputra spoke in verse, saying…” In the first section presenting the request, there were originally two parts: prose and verse. What follows is the second part, the verses, numbering eleven stanzas in total. The verses are also divided into two: first, six and a half stanzas directly versify the preceding prose; second, from “Among the assembly of śrāvakas, the Buddha declared me foremost,” there are four and a half stanzas that directly state his own doubt regarding what he attained, not versifying the preceding prose.