妙法蓮華經玄贊 6.273

6.273

贊曰：第二父先求覓。有三：一求子止城，二資財甚眾，三客利豐廣。此初也。「父」者化身。佛雖先來已經化導，眾生自退，故名先來。「求子不得，中止一城」，生死中也。「城」者大乘。《無垢稱經》云「為護法城」，今以大乘法為城也。將說大乘，以教發心，故城喻大乘法。

Eulogy: Second, the father seeks him beforehand. There are three parts: first, seeking his son, he stops in a city; second, his wealth and property are exceedingly vast; third, the guest-profits are abundant and widespread. This is the first. The 'father' is the transformation body. Although the Buddha had come beforehand and already guided and transformed him, the sentient being retreated on his own, hence he is said to have 'come beforehand.' 'Unable to find his son, he stopped midway in a city'—that is, within saṃsāra. The 'city' is the Mahāyāna. The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa states, 'In order to protect the city of the Dharma'; here, the Mahāyāna Dharma is taken as the city. Being about to expound the Mahāyāna to instruct him to arouse the resolve, the city is therefore a metaphor for the Mahāyāna Dharma.