妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.98

8.98

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.