妙法蓮華經玄義 6.94

6.94

祇夜者，名為重頌。頌有三種：一、頌意。二、頌事。三、頌言。頌意者，頌聖意所念法相及事。若頌心所念法相，則名偈陀經。若頌心所念授記等事，則隨事別為異經。頌事，謂授記等事，亦隨所頌事，別為異經。頌言者，若頌隨事之言，隨事別為異經。若頌直說脩多羅者，名為重頌祇夜經也。

Geyas are named reiterative recitations. There are three kinds of recitation: 1. Reciting the intended meaning. 2. Reciting events. 3. Reciting words. Reciting the intended meaning means reciting the characteristics of phenomena and events contemplated in the holy mind. If it recites the characteristics of phenomena contemplated in the mind, it is named a gāthā scripture. If it recites events such as prophecies contemplated in the mind, it becomes a distinct scripture according to the event. Reciting events refers to events such as prophecies, which also become distinct scriptures according to the event recited. Reciting words means: if it recites the words corresponding to an event, it becomes a distinct scripture according to the event; if it recites a directly spoken sūtra, it is called a reiterative recitation geya scripture.