法華義疏 9.235

9.235

所以有此品來者，〈見塔品〉既證前開後具於二義，今亦然矣。言成前者，凡有二義：一者、遠來意，此經開方便門、示真實相，開一切方便、示一切真實。但方便有二種：一、順方便，謂諸佛菩薩，二、違方便，如調達、善星。自上以來開順方便其義已竟。如滿願實是菩薩，方便示為小乘，釋迦是果德方便示有生滅。今次開違方便用，亦有二人：一、調達，謂人為違方便；二、龍女，謂畜生為違方便用。故順方便真實有因果兩人，違方便用有人畜二種也。二者、上品明過去多寶自來證明《法華》，今此品釋迦引調達為證明，由調達過去世為我說《法華經》今得成佛，是故法華功力深重宜須信持。故上是引他證，今引自證，是以兩品相次來也。又上四番命持經，今歎經三力釋成四命。三力者，引提婆達多證有成佛力，龍宮眾集證經有廣大力，龍女成佛證有速疾力，以經親有三力故宜應信持，是故引三力釋成四勸，所以有此品來也。

The reason why this chapter comes next is that, just as the "Apparition of the Jeweled Stūpa Chapter" both verified what preceded and opened what followed, possessing two meanings, the same is true here. As for completing what preceded, there are two meanings: First, the overarching intent: this sūtra opens the gate of expedient means and reveals the real characteristics; it opens all expedient means and reveals all real truths. But expedient means are of two kinds: first, compliant expedient means, referring to the buddhas and bodhisattvas; second, adverse expedient means, such as Devadatta and Sunakkhatta. From above up to this point, the opening of compliant expedient means is already complete. Just as Pūrṇa is truly a bodhisattva who expediently manifests as Hīnayāna, Śākyamuni has the virtues of the fruit of buddhahood and expediently manifests birth and extinction. Now, next, the function of adverse expedient means is opened; here too there are two persons: first, Devadatta, meaning a human being functioning as an adverse expedient means; second, the dragon girl, meaning an animal functioning as an adverse expedient means. Thus, compliant expedient means and the real have two persons in cause and fruit, while adverse expedient means in function have two types, human and animal. Second, the previous chapter explained that the past Prabhūtaratna came in person to bear witness to the Lotus; now, in this chapter, Śākyamuni cites Devadatta as a witness: because Devadatta expounded the Lotus Sūtra for me in a past life, I have now attained buddhahood; therefore, the efficacy and power of the Lotus are profound and weightly, and one must faithfully uphold it. Thus, the preceding chapter cited external verification, whereas this chapter cites self-verification; hence the two chapters follow one upon the other. Furthermore, above there were four rounds of commanding [them] to uphold the sūtra, and now the sūtra's three powers are praised to explain and establish the four commands. The three powers are: citing Devadatta verifies the power to attain buddhahood; the gathering of the assembly from the dragon palace verifies that the sūtra has vastly great power; the dragon girl attaining buddhahood verifies that it has swift power. Because the sūtra directly possesses these three powers, one should faithfully uphold it; therefore the three powers are cited to explain and establish the four exhortations, which is why this chapter follows.