妙法蓮華經文句 6.15

6.15

From "Although I instructed them" onwards, the second [section], four lines, versifies the parable of setting aside the table and using the carts, having two parts: the first line versifies setting aside the table and so forth. Above, the opening of the parable had three parts: considering appropriateness, absence of capacity, and halting the teaching; now this single gāthā also contains these three meanings, though in a summarized and condensed form. The phrase "Although I instructed them" versifies considering appropriateness; the phrase "yet they did not believe and accept" versifies the absence of capacity; the lower two phrases versify halting the teaching; or alternatively, the lower two versify the absence of capacity. "Because their greedy attachment is deep" versifies the above [prose where] they had not yet escaped birth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, grief, suffering, and distress. From "By this expedient means" onwards, the second [part], three gāthās, versifies the synthesis of the parable of using the carts to successfully rescue the children. The text above had four parts, but now only three are versified, and the synthesis likewise has three, omitting the synthesis of knowing the children's prior inclinations. The initial phrase "By this expedient means" versifies the above [prose where] merely through wisdom and expedient means he wished to consider appropriateness; from "speaking of the three vehicles" onwards, the second [part], one line and one phrase, versifies the synthesis of the above third [point], praising the rarity of the three carts; from "these children" onwards, the third [part], one and a half lines, versifies the synthesis of the fourth [point], suiting what they desired. Above, each of the three vehicles' syntheses had four phrases, whereas here they are versified collectively. "If their minds are resolute": from the dharma-forbearance of suffering onwards is truly resolute; this single phrase collectively versifies the stage of the three vehicles racing and running; the subsequent one line below "complete with" individually versifies the stage of the three vehicles vying to emerge.