妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.174

4.174

贊曰：下四頌半造塔成佛，分二：初四頌明造塔，後半頌結。初文有三，初二頌造塔數多八珍嚴瑩，次一頌九物為塔，後一頌下至戲笑劣物為塔。此初也。《佛地論》數七寶無玫瑰，仍琉璃與珠別，珠謂赤真珠。今此若以琉璃為珠即為七寶，不爾故八，琉璃與珠別故。頗梨多白紅色，車渠青白間色，馬腦有多色，或純白、或純青黃、或眾色間，玫瑰赤色。《說文》「火齊珠也」。一曰石之美好曰玫、圓好曰瑰，餘者可知。《增一阿含經》中佛告諸比丘：我今當說四梵之福：一若有信心善男子等未曾起塔處能起於塔，二補持故寺，三和合聖眾，四佛初成道諸天人等請轉法輪，是名四梵之福。比丘白佛：梵福多少？佛言：四天下及六欲天所有福德，猶不如一梵王之福，故勸造塔當得菩提。

The Eulogy says: The following four and a half verses explain attaining buddhahood through building stūpas, divided into two: the first four verses explain building stūpas, and the latter half-verse concludes. The first text has three parts: the first two verses treat building many stūpas adorned and polished with the eight precious things; the next one verse treats using nine materials to make stūpas; and the last one verse treats [materials] down to trifling things made in play for stūpas. This is the first. The Buddhabhūmi-śāstra enumerates seven treasures without rose-gem (méiguī), yet separates lapis lazuli and pearls, pearls meaning red genuine pearls. Now, if here lapis lazuli and pearls were taken as one, there would be seven treasures; but since they are not, there are eight, because lapis lazuli and pearls are distinct. Crystal is mostly white and red; giant clam shell is an alternating color of blue-green and white; agate has many colors, either pure white, pure blue-green or yellow, or an intermixture of various colors; rose-gem is red. The Shuowen says: "It is the huoqí pearl." Another says: fine stones are called méi, and round fine ones are called guī; the rest may be understood. In the Ekottarika-āgama, the Buddha told the bhikṣus: 'I will now speak of four kinds of brahma-blessings: first, if a faithful good man or similar person can erect a stūpa where one has never been erected; second, repairing an old monastery; third, harmonizing the noble assembly; fourth, when a buddha first attains the Way, devas, humans, and others requesting the turning of the wheel of the Dharma. These are called the four kinds of brahma-blessings.' The bhikṣus addressed the Buddha: 'How great are the brahma-blessings?' The Buddha said: 'All the merits of the four continents and the six heavens of the desire realm are still not equal to the blessings of a single Brahma King.' Therefore, he encourages building stūpas, whereby one shall attain bodhi.