妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.100

8.100

贊曰：此品大文分三。第三周說法有四，已上佛說，故下有三：初滿慈心念領解，次「爾時佛告」下世尊發言印述，後「諸比丘富樓那亦於七佛」下正為授記。一人為首餘亦理同，略舉一隅三隅返故。初文有二：初明領解、虔恭，後明心念領解。初文復二：初明所領，後明虔恭。此初也。所領有四：一領說法，近領化城寶所；遠領〈方便品〉下初權後實。二領授記，近領〈授記品〉末云「我諸弟子威德具足，其數五百皆當授記，於未來世咸得作佛」；遠領鶖子已下授記。三領宿世因緣，近領十六王子近事，遠領鶖子〈方便品〉云「世世已曾從佛受化」，〈譬喻品〉言「我昔教汝志願佛道」。四領神通，近領前品中設化城，是神境智作證通，中語能化設之大通佛十劫坐於道場，震動十方放光遠照十方，梵王觀光來集等事；遠領釋迦初時召集，動地雨華放光遠照，乃至〈方便品〉云「作此思惟時，梵音慰喻我，善哉釋迦文」等，皆是諸佛之神通也。

The Eulogy states: The general text of this chapter is divided into three parts. The preaching of the Dharma in the third cycle has four [sections]; the preceding part was spoken by the Buddha, and so below there are three: first, Pūrṇa’s mental understanding; next, from "At that time the Buddha addressed" onward, the Bhagavat’s verbal verification and recounting; and finally, from "O monks, Pūrṇa has also among the seven buddhas" onward, the actual bestowing of the prophecy. Although one person is taken as the foremost, the principle applies equally to the rest, for briefly raising one corner enables them to infer the other three. The first text has two parts: first, explaining his understanding and reverence; second, explaining his mental understanding. The first text again has two: first, explaining what was understood; second, explaining his reverence. This is the first. What was understood is fourfold: (1) Understanding the preaching of the Dharma: proximate understanding is the conjured city and the jewel depository; remote understanding is the provisional first and the real later from the 'Expedient Means Chapter' onward. (2) Understanding the bestowing of prophecies: proximate understanding is the end of the 'Chapter on Bestowing Prophecies,' which states, 'All my disciples are endowed with majestic virtue; five hundred in number shall all receive prophecies, and in future ages all will become buddhas'; remote understanding is the prophecies bestowed on Śāriputra and the others below. (3) Understanding the causes and conditions of past lives: proximate understanding is the recent events of the sixteen princes; remote understanding is Śāriputra saying in the 'Expedient Means Chapter', 'In life after life I have already received transformation from the Buddha,' and the 'Parable Chapter' stating, 'In the past I taught you to aspire to the buddha path.' (4) Understanding the supernatural powers: proximate understanding is setting up the conjured city in the previous chapter, which is the supernatural power of direct realization through knowledge of supernatural spheres; and in the middle the events of the Great Penetrating Omnipresent Victor Buddha, capable of creating and setting it up, sitting at the seat of awakening for ten kalpas, shaking the ten directions, emitting light illuminating far throughout the ten directions, and the Brahmā kings observing the light and gathering; remote understanding is Śākyamuni initially assembling the retinue, shaking the earth, raining down flowers, emitting light illuminating far, and continuing up to the 'Expedient Means Chapter' stating, 'When I reflected thus, a Brahmā sound consoled me, saying: "Excellent, Śākyamuni!"' and so forth—all of which are the supernatural powers of the buddhas.