妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.142

8.142

贊曰：二十一頌半。分二：初十二頌頌上佛印述，後九頌半頌正為記。初文又二：初七頌頌歎今德，後五頌頌歎往德，不頌問眾。理雖但頌今德，文勢似頌一切應化弟子。初文有三：初二頌半標舉，次三頌釋成，後一頌半結略。此初也。

The Eulogy says: [These are] twenty-one and a half verses. They are divided into two parts: the first twelve verses reiterate the Buddha's affirmation and praise above; the subsequent nine and a half verses reiterate the actual bestowing of the prophecy. The first passage also has two parts: the first seven verses praise his present virtues, and the subsequent five verses praise his past virtues; they do not reiterate the questioning assembly. Although in principle [the verses] only praise his present virtues, the momentum of the text seems to praise all responsive-transformation disciples. The first passage has three parts: the first two and a half verses mark and state [the theme]; the next three verses explain and establish [it]; and the final one and a half verses conclude concisely. This is the first.