妙法蓮華經玄贊 6.3

6.3

The Commentary says: Below are the verses. There are one hundred and sixty-five verses in all, divided into two parts: first, eighty-four and a half verses versifying the preceding dharma and metaphor; second, from 'He addressed Śāriputra: All of you people are my children, and I am your father' onward, there are eighty and a half verses, which form the third major section, exhorting faith and understanding in this sūtra and seeking the buddha-wisdom to be attained in the future. The first part has three sections: first, sixty-five and a half verses versifying the metaphorical exposition above; next, eighteen verses versifying the synthesis above; finally, one verse versifying the preceding concluding statement. That is: 'Due to these causes and conditions, seeking attentively throughout the ten directions, there is no other vehicle, aside from the Buddha's expedient means.' In the first sixty-five and a half verses versifying the metaphorical exposition, it is divided into two parts: first, fifty-three and a half verses versifying the provisional of the past; second, twelve verses versifying the real of the present. The first text is divided into four: first, half a verse versifying the metaphor that the triple world is possessed by the Buddha; second, thirty-two and a half verses versifying the metaphor of the peril and ruin of the five destinies; third, fourteen verses versifying the metaphor of seeing [their danger] and devising provisional expedients; fourth, six verses versifying the metaphor of following his words and escaping disaster. In the prose of the first metaphor there were six items; here it versifies only two: one, the master of the house; two, the features of the mansion. Earlier it said 'having many fields and houses'; 'herein there was a great mansion' has three explanations as given before.