華嚴經探玄記 4.79

4.79

一釋名者，依梵本名跋陀羅，此云賢。室利，此云吉祥、或云德、或云首、或云勝。是故非是初首之首，亦非上首之首，此等梵語皆有別名，故此但為顯吉祥勝德超絕為首。當體至順調柔曰賢。賢約體性，首約德用，是持業釋。於此信滿入普賢位，具有二義：若約果，則下文賢首佛剎等；此中約因，故云菩薩也；或唯約人，賢首則是菩薩故。又以此人是說法者，從人為名故；或唯是法菩薩，則是賢首故，所說亦是賢首菩薩法門故。或人法合目，則依主釋也。

First, explaining the name: According to the Sanskrit text, the name is bhadra, translated here as 'worthy' (xian). Śrī is translated here as 'auspicious', or 'virtue', or 'foremost', or 'superior'. Therefore, it is neither the 'head' meaning the beginning, nor the 'head' meaning the chief; these have different words in Sanskrit. Thus, this is merely to reveal auspicious and superior virtue that is transcendentally foremost. Being completely compliant and gentle in one's very substance is called 'worthy'. 'Worthy' concerns essential nature; 'foremost' concerns virtuous function; this is a karmadhāraya compound. Perfecting faith and entering the station of Samantabhadra here possesses two meanings: if understood in terms of the fruit, it refers to the subsequent text's "Buddha-realm of Bhadramukha," etc.; here it is understood in terms of the cause, and hence is called 'bodhisattva'; or it refers solely to the person, Bhadramukha being the bodhisattva. Moreover, because this person is the preacher of the Dharma, it takes its name from the person; or it refers solely to the Dharma, the bodhisattva being Bhadramukha, and what is preached also being the Dharma-gate of Bodhisattva Bhadramukha. Or, if it is a joint designation of person and Dharma, it is a tatpuruṣa compound.