妙法蓮華經玄贊 7.122

7.122

贊曰：下喻說。中分二：初總喻，後別喻。此初也。「土地」已前喻能有所生，已下喻所有。「三千大千」彰所依器，一佛化境。於中有四：一山，《玉篇》「艮為山，山，產也，宣氣散生萬物」。二川，貫穿通流，水也。三谿，《爾雅》「水注川曰谿」。四谷，古鹿反，《玉篇》亦餘玉反，水注谿曰谷。《說文》「泉之通川曰谷」。喻大千中有四生類。此等土地所有之中，卉即三草、木即二木。「卉」音許貴反，百草總名，亦眾也。卉及木皆有藂、林，意顯草木各有眾多。此雖眾多，就中世出世善法種子喻於藥草。五乘種子體類各別如種類若干，相用有殊如名、色各異。色者形貌亦色類義。

The Commentary says: Below is the explanation by parable. It is divided into two parts: first, the general parable; second, the particular parable. This is the first.
Everything up to 'ground and soil' is a parable for that which produces; everything following is a parable for that which is produced. 'Three-thousand great-thousand' indicates the container realm on which they rely—the realm of transformation of one buddha. Within it are four:
First, mountains (*shan*). The *Yupian* states: 'Gen corresponds to mountain; mountain means production, disseminating qi to give birth to the myriad things.'
Second, rivers (*chuan*): that which flows through and penetrates; water.
Third, ravines (*xi*). The *Erya* states: 'Water flowing into a river is called a *xi*.'
Fourth, valleys (*gu*), pronounced *gu* [fan *gu-lu*]; the *Yupian* also gives *yu-yu* [fan]: water flowing into a ravine is called a *gu*. The *Shuowen* states: 'A spring connecting to a river is called a *gu*.'
These serve as a parable for the four kinds of birth within the great-thousand [world].
Among what exists in these grounds and soils: 'plants' refers to the three grasses, and 'trees' refers to the two trees. The word *hui* (plants) is pronounced with the fan *xu-gui*; it is the general term for the hundred grasses, and also means 'multitudes'. Both plants and trees have thickets and groves, the intention being to show that grasses and trees are each multitudinous. Although these are multitudinous, among them the seeds of mundane and supramundane wholesome dharmas are compared to medicinal herbs. The essences and classes of the seeds of the five vehicles are each distinct, just as 'there are manifold varieties'; their characteristics and functions are different, just as 'their names and forms are each different'. 'Form' means appearance, and also has the sense of category.