法華經義記 7.78

7.78

"And spoke in verse:" Within this one chapter there are two parts: that is, the prose and the verses constitute the two. From this point downward there are forty-eight lines of verse, which is the second, the verse section. The prose originally had twenty sections, but here only four sections are versified: three and a half lines versify the fifth; three lines versify the seventh; five and a half lines versify the eleventh; and thirty-six lines versify the twentieth section. Now, initially there are three and a half lines versifying the fifth above. The fifth above stated that the Buddha replied to Mahāpratibhāna, explaining the purpose of Prabhūtaratna's coming. From 'Moreover, the emanations of my body' downward, there are three lines versifying the seventh in the prose; the seventh explained that the Buddha replied to Mahāpratibhāna, saying: 'If you wish to see Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata, you must now assemble the Buddhas who are emanations of my body.' From 'To seat the Buddhas' downward, there are five and a half lines of verse versifying the eleventh in the prose; the eleventh above stated that at that time the Sahā world was immediately transformed into purity, explaining that Śākya, wishing to accommodate the Buddhas who are emanations of his body, therefore transformed its appearance three times. However, above it was the compiler of the scripture narrating the Tathāgata's supernatural power, whereas now these five and a half lines are also the compiler of the scripture speaking in verse. From 'Proclaim to the great assembly: after my parinirvāṇa' downward, the remaining thirty-six lines of verse versify the twentieth in the prose; above it stated, 'with a great voice he universally proclaimed to the great assembly,' directly summoning people to propagate the sūtra. Within these thirty-six lines there are inherently six sections: first, stating 'Proclaim to the great assembly' consists of one and a half lines, directly versifying the prose above; second, from 'That Prabhūtaratna Buddha' there are three lines briefly exhorting the assembly of that time to make a vow to propagate the sūtra; third, from 'Whoever is able to protect this sūtra-dharma' there are four lines of verse, stating that if one is able to propagate this sūtra, that is indeed making offerings to the Tathāgata; fourth, from 'Good sons, each of you carefully reflect' there are eighteen lines, broadly drawing upon various difficulties to encourage and exhort the propagation of the sūtra; fifth, from 'I, for the sake of the Buddha path' downward, there are three and a half lines, where Śākya personally adduces his past propagation of the sūtra to exhort the assembly of that time; sixth, from 'This sūtra is difficult to uphold; if one upholds it even for a moment' to the end of the chapter, there are six lines, adducing the retribution to exhort the assembly of that time to propagate the sūtra.