法華義疏 10.129

10.129

「我等雖復」下，第二、請答。又開為二：初、明請意；「唯然」下，正明請說也。偈文為二：第一、十一行，頌疑問；次、三行，頌請說。就疑問又三：即頌前法、譬、合。頌法說有三：初一行，頌佛成道近；次二行半，頌諸菩薩修行久；次一行半，明久近相違請佛為說。次二行，頌譬說，亦三：半行，頌父少喻，上成道近；一行，頌子老譬，上修行久；半行，頌父子相違喻，上第三近遠相違。合譬中，初半行合父少，次三行半合子老。請說三偈中，二行頌請意，一行頌正請。

From "Although we ourselves..." downward is the second, requesting an answer. It is again divided into two: first, explaining the intention of the request; from "May you please..." downward is the request to expound proper. The verses are divided into two: first, eleven lines versify the questioning in doubt; next, three lines versify the request to expound. Under the questioning in doubt there are again three: namely, versifying the preceding Dharma exposition, parable, and application. Versifying the Dharma exposition has three parts: the first line versifies the Buddha's attainment of the Way being recent; the next two and a half lines versify the bodhisattvas' cultivation being long-standing; the next one and a half lines explain the contradiction between distant and recent, requesting the Buddha to expound it. The next two lines versify the parable exposition, also in three parts: half a line versifies the young father parable, matching the recent attainment of the Way above; one line versifies the old sons parable, matching the long-standing cultivation above; half a line versifies the contradiction between father and sons, matching the third item above, the contradiction between near and far. In the application of the parable, the first half-line applies to the young father, and the next three and a half lines apply to the old sons. Among the three verses requesting the exposition, two lines versify the intention of the request, and one line versifies the request proper.