法華文句記 4.120

4.120

問：身子初周為三根請者，此下雜料簡不關十門。言為四眾三根者，初周普請佛亦普說，餘未悟者還為普請，既普請普說云何言佛各為說耶？此引三抑俟其三周，佛既權抑預表身子權能預謀，何以不各各請之？而三周之首通為三根，譬周之初通為中下，故諸天領解。文後云「爾時舍利弗白佛言：我今無復疑悔，是諸千二百等」，故知是為中根請也。乃至文云「願為四眾說其因緣」，即為下根請也。答意可知。然身子設使預知在三，終須普請。

Question: When Śāriputra requests on behalf of the three capacities in the first cycle—this following miscellaneous analysis does not concern the ten gates. In saying "on behalf of the four assemblies and three capacities," in the first cycle there was a universal request and the Buddha also preached universally; for those remaining who had not awakened, he again made a universal request. Since there was a universal request and a universal preaching, why is it said that the Buddha preached separately for each? This brings in the three refusals to await the three cycles. Since the Buddha provisionally refused so as to prefigure that Śāriputra possessed the provisional capacity to plan ahead, why did he not request separately for each? Instead, the beginning of the three cycles was universally for the three capacities, and the beginning of the cycle of parables was universally for the intermediate and lower, which is why the devas expressed their understanding. Later in the text it says: "At that time Śāriputra addressed the Buddha, saying: 'I now have no further doubts or regrets. These twelve hundred and others...'" Therefore we know that this was requesting on behalf of the intermediate capacity. Up to the text stating: "We pray that you will explain the causes and conditions for the four assemblies," which is requesting on behalf of the lower capacity. The meaning of the answer can be understood. However, even if Śāriputra foresaw that it would be in three [cycles], he ultimately had to make a universal request.