妙法蓮華經文句 8.48

8.48

偈有十八行半，為三：初一行，總勸不頌長行；次十六行半，頌上長行；後一行，結勸。上約果歎文有五，今初一行半頌開譬；次「藥王汝當知」，第二，二行半，頌合譬，略不頌餘三，近果、釋、揀非等也。上通經方軌中有二：方軌、利益；今十二行半頌，初三行半，頌方軌，中有三，今亦頌三意也。「我千萬億」下，次九行，頌利益。初一行總明如來以五事利益之意，正由應身遍滿十方，能為五事守護行人。「若我滅後」下一行半，頌第二遣四眾。「引導」下一行半，頌第一遣化人。「若說法之人」下二行，頌第五令得總持。「若人具是德」下一行，頌第四令得見佛。「若人在空閑」下二行，頌第三遣八部（云云）。

The gāthās have eighteen and a half verses, divided into three: first, one verse, an overall encouragement that does not summarize the prose; next, sixteen and a half verses, summarizing the preceding prose; finally, one verse, a concluding encouragement. Above, in the text praising based on the fruit, there were five parts: now, the first verse and a half summarizes the setting forth of the simile; next, 'Bhaiṣajyarāja, you should know', the second part of two and a half verses, summarizes the application of the simile, briefly omitting the remaining three parts—approaching the fruit, the explanation, and selecting out the disqualified. Above, in the rules and methods for circulating the sūtra, there were two parts: the rules and methods, and the benefits. Now, of the twelve and a half verses: the first three and a half verses summarize the rules and methods, which contained three items, and here also summarize those three intents. From 'My thousands of myriads of koṭis...' downward, the next nine verses summarize the benefits. The first verse generally clarifies the Tathāgata's intent in benefiting through the five matters: precisely because the response body pervades the ten directions, it can guard and protect practitioners through these five matters. From 'If after my extinction...' downward, one verse and a half summarizes the second item, sending the fourfold assembly. From 'Guiding and leading...' downward, one verse and a half summarizes the first item, sending emanated people. From 'If the person expounding the Dharma...' downward, two verses summarize the fifth item, causing them to obtain dhāraṇī. From 'If a person is endowed with such virtues...' downward, one verse summarizes the fourth item, causing them to see the Buddha. From 'If a person is in an empty and quiet place...' downward, two verses summarize the third item, sending the eight classes (and so forth).