妙法蓮華經玄贊 2.197

2.197

The Commentary says: Below, the sixth section consists of seven verses versifying the erection of stūpas. There are two parts: the first verse concerns making offerings to the relics (śarīra); the latter six verses concern building stūpas and making offerings. The latter text is divided into three parts: the first three verses concern building and adorning the stūpas; the next one verse concerns offerings made by the eight classes; the last two verses reveal the supreme excellence of erecting stūpas. Furthermore, the seven verses are divided into two parts: the first five verses versify the prose text, and the last two verses conclude with the excellence of erecting stūpas. Within the first part there are again two: the first four verses concern offerings made by bodhisattvas, and the next one verse concerns offerings made by the eight classes. Offerings made by bodhisattvas again have two parts: the first verse concerns making offerings to relics, and the latter three concern erecting stūpas. In accordance with this verse text, the prose should say that they made offerings to relics and erected stūpas of the seven precious substances. This is the first.