妙法蓮華經文句 10.20

10.20

偈十九行半，初十二行，先頌格量多少；次，二行，追頌人相；後五行半，頌行位不退。「無量劫行道」者，久修諸度也。「願我於未來」者，起慈悲願也。藉久行願聞經信解，今之初品始聞此經一念信解，功等久行亦乃過之也。

The verse has nineteen and a half stanzas: the first twelve stanzas first versify the assessment of quantity; next, two stanzas retrospectively versify the characteristics of the person; the last five and a half stanzas versify non-retrogression in practice and stage. 'Practicing the Way for immeasurable kalpas' refers to cultivating the pāramitās for a long time. 'May I in the future' refers to giving rise to vows of loving-kindness and compassion. Relying on past practices and vows, one hears the sūtra and has faith and understanding; the present first grade, upon newly hearing this sūtra, has faith and understanding in a single thought-moment, and its merit equals those of long practice and even surpasses them.