法華義疏 7.196

7.196

「而命其子」下，第二、召集證明，即序品中列眾事也。集二乘眾如命其子，此經初分正為聲聞，故云「為諸聲聞說大乘經名妙法蓮華教菩薩法」，所以云而命其子也。又「從三昧起告舍利弗」，即是而命其子。「并會親族」者，謂佛同行之人為親族也。「國王」者，多寶分身也；「大臣」者，諸菩薩眾也；「剎利」者，諸天等幽眾也；「居士」者，人王等顯眾也。不列聲聞眾者，而命其子即聲聞眾也。

From "And summoned his son" onward: second, convoking [them] to bear witness; this corresponds to the setting forth of the assembly in the "Introductory Chapter". Gathering the assembly of the two vehicles is like summoning his son; the opening portion of this sūtra is specifically intended for the śrāvakas, which is why it states, "Preaching a Mahāyāna sūtra for the śrāvakas, named the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma, a teaching for bodhisattvas"; this is why it says, "and summoned his son." Furthermore, "Arising from samādhi, he addressed Śāriputra" is precisely "and summoned his son." "And assembling his relatives": those who practice together with the Buddha are called relatives. "Kings": the emanated bodies of Prabhūtaratna. "Ministers": the assembly of bodhisattvas. "Kṣatriyas": the invisible assemblies, such as the various devas. "Householders": the manifest assemblies, such as human rulers. The reason the assembly of śrāvakas is not listed separately is that "and summoned his son" refers directly to the assembly of śrāvakas.