法華經義記 3.19

3.19

However, within the six and a half stanzas versifying the prose, there were originally three parts: first, doubting the two knowledges of all buddhas; second, reiterating the assembly’s doubt to request the exposition; third, doubting Śākya’s real knowledge. Now, within the six and a half stanzas, two and a half stanzas first versify the third section, the next one stanza retroactively versifies the first section, and the next three stanzas versify the second section. The initial two and a half stanzas first versify the third section, Śākya’s two knowledges. Now, “The Great Holy Honoured One, Sun of Wisdom, has after a long time preached this dharma,” this following one and a half stanzas directly versifies the doubt regarding Śākya’s real knowledge. From “The dharma attained at the place of awakening,” this one stanza versifies the doubt regarding the above expedient knowledge, doubting why this knowledge was praised yet not spoken. “Spontaneously expounded without being asked,” this one stanza is the second part, versifying in reverse order the first part above: “For what reason do you earnestly praise the foremost skilful means, the profound, subtle, and difficult-to-understand dharma of all buddhas?” However, the prose did not bring out the past causes of all buddhas; now the upper half of this one stanza extensively brings out the past causes, and the lower half-stanza directly versifies it. “The unblemished arhats and those seeking nirvāṇa,” these following three stanzas are the third part, retroactively versifying the second part above which reiterated the assembly’s doubt to request the exposition; above it said: “From the past until now, I have never heard such a dharma from the Buddha; now the fourfold assembly all have doubts,” hence we know these three stanzas directly versify this. Above there were two: the initial stanza adduces the śrāvakas requesting the exposition; the second, from “Those who seek [the path of] pratyekabuddhas” down, two stanzas adduce the pratyekabuddhas requesting the exposition. “Among the assembly of śrāvakas, the Buddha declared me foremost,” these following four and a half stanzas are the second part of the verses, designated the verses of direct statement regarding his own doubt over what he attained. These four and a half stanzas themselves have two parts: first, “Among the assembly of śrāvakas, the Buddha declared me foremost,” this following one and a half stanzas directly clarifies Śāriputra’s own doubt over what he attained, whether it is definitively a cause or definitively a fruit. Second, from “Sons born from the Buddha’s mouth” down, three stanzas directly conclude the request for exposition. “At that time the Buddha addressed Śāriputra: ‘Stop, stop! There is no need to speak further,’” from here down is the second section, the first refusal: the meaning is that if he were to expound these two knowledges at length, the assembly at that time would mutually give rise to astonishment and doubt; for this reason there is no need to speak further.