妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.236

4.236

贊曰：下十一頌半請念設權方，中分四：初二頌諸天請說，次三頌示相思惟，次四頌半化遇良緣，後二頌念隨權誘。此初也。「大自在天」色界天也。今對三乘，法爾說法皆待請故。《智度論》云：「淨居天勸出家，四天王獻鉢，帝釋獻寶座，梵王請轉法輪，佛初不許，梵王說有三根，重請慇懃，佛方許之初說三乘。」《勝天王般若》云：「四天王等獻鉢，天帝釋獻座，佛為受之，各見獨為受之，皆發勝心。」然下大通智勝唯梵王請，此說通諸天者，彼舉勝類，非無餘天請彼佛也。

Eulogy: The following eleven and a half verses concern the request [for teaching], the thought [of the Buddha], and the establishment of expedient means. Within this there are four parts: first, two verses in which the devas request the teaching; next, three verses showing the reflections in [the Buddha's] mind; next, four and a half verses on the conversion encountering favourable conditions; and finally, two verses on the thought of following expedient induction. This is the first.
"Maheśvara" is a deva of the form realm. Now, with respect to the three vehicles, it is the natural law that preaching the Dharma always awaits an invitation. The *Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa* says: "The devas of the Śuddhāvāsa urged him to renounce the household life; the Four Heavenly Kings offered bowls; Śakra offered a jewelled throne; and the Brahmā king requested the turning of the wheel of the Dharma. The Buddha at first did not consent; the Brahmā king stated that there are beings of three [grades of] faculties and earnestly renewed the request, whereupon the Buddha consented and initially preached the three vehicles." The *Suvikrāntavikramiparipṛcchā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra* says: "The Four Heavenly Kings and others offered bowls, and Śakra, the king of gods, offered a throne; the Buddha accepted them, and each saw that he accepted it exclusively for them, all giving rise to supreme aspirations." However, below, in the case of Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū, only the Brahmā king made the request; that this text speaks generally of the devas is because that text cited the pre-eminent class, not that no other devas requested that buddha.