妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.98

8.98

有四解：一云五百在會，現前得記，千二百人有不在會，不現前故。二云五百佛自與記，千二百人佛於偈中令傳為記。三云五百人佛與別記，謂轉次授記等別說其相貌；千二百人佛但總記，不別顯相。四云其五百人能生領解，說繫寶珠喻；千二百人無別領悟，滿慈一人少故不說。故但以五百為品名，以全數故，不以千二百等為品號，數不全故。

There are four explanations: First, it is said that the five hundred were present in the assembly and received their prophecies face-to-face, whereas among the twelve hundred some were not present in the assembly and not face-to-face. Second, it is said that the Buddha personally gave prophecies to the five hundred, while for the twelve hundred the Buddha had it transmitted as a prophecy in verses. Third, it is said that the Buddha gave individual prophecies to the five hundred, distinctively explaining their characteristics such as sequential transmission of prophecies; for the twelve hundred, the Buddha only gave a general prophecy without distinctly showing their characteristics. Fourth, it is said that the five hundred were able to give rise to understanding and spoke the parable of the tied jewel; the twelve hundred had no distinct understanding, and Maitrāyaṇīputra being only one person was few, so he is not mentioned. Therefore, only the five hundred are used as the chapter name because it is a round number, and the twelve hundred and so forth are not used as the chapter title because it is not a round number.