法華經義記 3.60

3.60

From "Just like the Buddhas of the three times" onwards, the five and a half verses are the verse-section praising the rarity of the Dharma, which is the fourth topic within [the section on] Śākya; it is absent from the prose and does not serve as a basis for the parables below. Now, within these five and a half verses there are naturally three sections: first, there is one verse which first brings out the Dharma being praised, which is the teaching of the One Vehicle. Second, from "When Buddhas appear in the world" there are two verses which, based on various difficulties, reveal the marks of the Dharma's rarity being praised. Third, there are two and a half verses which, returning to the parable of the udumbara blossom, conclude the praise. Another explanation says: within this there are two: the first verse brings out the Dharma being praised, and the latter four and a half verses directly praise the Dharma. Within the praise of the Dharma there are three: the first two verses are an exposition by dharma, the next one verse is an exposition by parable, and the latter one and a half verses are the application of the parable.