華嚴經探玄記 12.54

12.54

初讚請分中有十五頌，分四：初二頌明菩薩眾以三業供養；次有二頌明天王眷屬三業供養；次有十頌天女歎佛。於中初一敘事。次八歎佛：初二歎因深果現。次二體極用希，謂此一類所化根器久來未熟，故今佛海於彼一類常恒堪然未曾起用；今既根熟，感佛應機從體起用，故云從久遠來大海相始動，非謂如來從久遠來一切處未用今始方用。次二頌慶此希遇。次二頌歎佛德勝。後一總結天女歎已默住。末後一頌眾首正請。

In the initial section of praise and request, there are fifteen verses, divided into four: First, two verses show the assembly of bodhisattvas making offerings with the three karmas; next, two verses show the retinue of the heavenly king making offerings with the three karmas; next, ten verses show the heavenly maidens praising the Buddha. Therein, the first single verse narrates the event. The next eight praise the Buddha: the first two praise the profound cause and the manifest fruit. The next two praise the ultimate essence and rare function, meaning that the capacities of this category of beings to be transformed had long remained unripe, so the Buddha-ocean previously remained constantly poised and tranquil toward that category without ever giving rise to function; now that their capacities are ripe, they stimulate the Buddha to respond to their capacity and give rise to function from essence, hence it says that from long ago the marks of the great ocean only now begin to move; it does not mean that the Tathāgata from long ago has not functioned anywhere and only now begins to function. The next two verses celebrate this rare encounter. The next two verses praise the excellence of the Buddha's virtues. The subsequent single verse summarizes by stating that the heavenly maidens, having praised, remained silent. The final single verse contains the main request by the leader of the assembly.