妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.92

4.92

贊曰：一頌半頌演說諸法。依諸處說十二部經次第，一契經，經云「脩多羅」；二應頌，經云「祇夜」；三記別，此中無；四諷誦，經云「伽陀」；五自說，此中無；六緣起，經云「因緣」，七譬喻、八本事、九本生，三名同此；十方廣，此中無；十一希法，經云「未曾有」；十二論議，經云「優婆提舍經」。於此義中以三門分別：一辨相，二釋名，三差別。辨相者，契經有二相：一通、二別。《涅槃經》云：「從如是我聞乃至歡喜奉行，如是一切名脩多羅」，攝十二盡，名通相也，以教貫理及攝生故。《對法論》云：「謂以長行綴緝略說所應說義，名為契經，此唯長行名為別相；偈頌便非，別契經攝。」

The Eulogy says: One and a half verses versify proclaiming all dharmas. According to the order of the twelve divisions of scriptures taught in various places: first, sūtras (covenant scriptures), called 'xiuduoluo' in the sūtra; second, geyas (metrical songs), called 'qiye' in the sūtra; third, vyākaraṇas (prophecies), which are absent here; fourth, gāthās (verses of praise), called 'jiatuo' in the sūtra; fifth, udānas (spontaneous utterances), which are absent here; sixth, nidānas (conditioned arisings), called 'causes and conditions' in the sūtra; seventh, avadānas (metaphors); eighth, itivṛttakas (former events); ninth, jātakas (past births)—the three names are the same as here; tenth, vaipulyas (broad and extensive teachings), which are absent here; eleventh, adbhutadharmas (rare dharmas), called 'unprecedented' in the sūtra; twelfth, upadeśas (discussions), called 'upadeśa sūtras' in the sūtra. In this meaning, they are distinguished by three gates: first, distinguishing their characteristics; second, explaining the names; third, differences. As for distinguishing their characteristics, sūtras have two characteristics: first, general; second, specific. The *Nirvāṇa-sūtra* says: 'From "Thus have I heard" down to "rejoiced and practiced accordingly," all such are called sūtras'—this encompasses all twelve completely and is called the general characteristic, because the teaching runs through principle and encompasses sentient beings. The *Abhidharmasamuccaya* says: 'It refers to weaving and summarily stating the meanings that should be taught in prose, called sūtras; this refers exclusively to prose as the specific characteristic; verses are not included, being subsumed under distinct sūtras.'