妙法蓮華經玄贊 5.72

5.72

贊曰：第一周中自下第三如來述成，同〈藥草喻〉重述成故。於中分三：初陳往遇，次述今逢，後顯還令依前取實。此初也。「曾二萬億佛所為無上道常教化汝等」者，《優婆塞戒經》言：「舍利弗曾六十劫行菩薩道，有婆羅門從其乞眼，鶖子與之。彼得眼已投之於地，雙足踐踏罵詈而去。鶖子悔恨遂退大心。」此說彼時故昔教汝，二萬佛所以為善友常化大乘，鶖子彼時亦隨受教。

The Commentary says: In the first cycle, the third section below is the Tathāgata's endorsement, just as the endorsement is reiterated in the "Parable of the Medicinal Herbs." Within it, there are three parts: first, setting forth past encounters; next, recounting the present meeting; afterward, showing that he will cause them to return to the former and grasp the real. This is the first. As for "formerly, in the presence of twenty thousand koṭis of buddhas, for the sake of the unsurpassed Way, I constantly transformed and taught you all," the Upāsakaśīla-sūtra says: "Śāriputra formerly practiced the bodhisattva path for sixty kalpas. A brāhmaṇa came to beg for his eye, and Śāriputra gave it to him. Having received the eye, the brāhmaṇa threw it to the ground, trampled it with both feet, cursed him, and left. Śāriputra felt regret and resentment, and thereupon retrogressed from the great mind." This speaks of that time, hence "formerly taught you." In the presence of twenty thousand buddhas, acting as a kalyāṇamitra, he constantly transformed him with the Great Vehicle, and Śāriputra at that time also followed and received the teaching.