法華義疏 3.240

3.240

偈分為二：初句、稱歎，第二、正請。「無上兩足尊」者，既為兩足之尊，必應為天人說；如其不說，何名兩足尊耶？「願說第一法」者，第二、正請。就文為二：第一、標請；第二、釋請。言「願說第一法」者，標請也。佛乘於三乘之內為第一也。「我為佛長子」，第二、頌上釋請。就文開為二：初二行，頌上身子與大眾堪能信解；第二一行半，明身子大眾渴仰欲聞。就初文又三：半行，頌身子親能信解；又半行，以頌大眾亦能信解；一行，舉古況今釋身子大眾能信解義。長行舉世世受化故請，偈舉世世化物釋請。「我等千二百」下，第二、明身子與大眾渴仰欲聞，亦開三別：初半行，雙牒兩眾；次半行，重請說；後半行，明樂聞法故生大歡喜。聞說一乘並皆成佛，故三根聲聞及分別功德諸大士皆明大喜。

The verse divides into two: the first line is praise, and the second is the actual request. As for "Unexcelled Honoured One among Two-Footed Beings", since he is the honoured one among two-footed beings, he must certainly preach for devas and humans; if he were not to preach, how could he be named the Honoured One among Two-Footed Beings? "We pray that you preach the supreme Dharma" is the second part, the actual request. In the text there are two parts: first, stating the request; second, explaining the request. Saying "We pray that you preach the supreme Dharma" states the request. Within the triyāna, the Buddha vehicle is supreme. "I am the Buddha's eldest son" is the second part, versifying the above explanation of the request. In the text this opens into two: the first two stanzas versify the above point that Śāriputra and the great assembly are capable of believing and understanding; the second stanza and a half explains that Śāriputra and the great assembly thirstily aspire to hear. In the first passage there are again three parts: half a stanza versifies that Śāriputra himself is capable of believing and understanding; another half stanza versifies that the great assembly is also capable of believing and understanding; one stanza cites the past to illustrate the present, explaining the meaning of Śāriputra and the great assembly being capable of believing and understanding. The prose passage cited being converted across generations to make the request; the verse cites converting beings across generations to explain the request. From "We twelve hundred" onward is the second part, explaining that Śāriputra and the great assembly thirstily aspire to hear, which also opens into three distinct parts: the first half stanza reiterates both assemblies; the next half stanza requests the preaching again; the final half stanza explains that through rejoicing in hearing the Dharma they give rise to great joy. Hearing the preaching of the ekayāna and all alike becoming buddhas, the śrāvakas of the three capacities and all the great beings who distinguish merits are thus all shown to have great joy.