妙法蓮華經玄贊 7.208

7.208

贊曰：下七頌別顯。中分二：初四頌三草，後三頌二木。此初。有三：一頌小草，二頌中草，一頌大草。無種姓人與人天樂，名為小草。《善戒經》云「無種姓人但以人天善根而成熟之」。或七方便亦名小草，二乘名中草，菩薩名上草，亦即《勝鬘》所荷四生。無聞非法眾生即小藥草，中間二乘即中藥草，菩薩即是大藥草，即是《涅槃》三病人也。

Commentary: The seven verses below specifically reveal this. Divided into two: first, four verses on the three herbs; next, three verses on the two trees. This is the first. There are three parts: one verse on the small herb, two verses on the medium herb, and one verse on the large herb. For persons without spiritual disposition who are given the bliss of humans and devas, they are called small herbs. The Shanji-jing says: "Persons without spiritual disposition are matured solely through the wholesome roots of humans and devas." Alternatively, the seven expedient means are also called small herbs, the two vehicles are called medium herbs, and bodhisattvas are called superior herbs; these are also the four modes of birth borne in the Śrīmālā-sūtra. Sentient beings lacking learning and without the Dharma are the small medicinal herbs; the intermediate two vehicles are the medium medicinal herbs; and bodhisattvas are the large medicinal herbs; these are the three sick persons in the Nirvāṇa-sūtra.