華嚴經探玄記 4.83

4.83

問中亦二：先經家序列。何故文殊問、賢首答者？以信收萬行，非妙德無以發起；信該六位，非賢德無以宣揚。又達深顯慧，淨德彰福。二以頌正問，中二：一結前；二問後，此中亦二：先問甚深行、後問廣大德。何故此中問答皆以偈頌者？釋有二義：一以始德深廣該徹窮終，散說難周，故以偈頌總攝；二顯圓德勝妙，故以美辭讚述。《地論》云「偈頌者，以少字攝多義故、諸讚歎者多以偈頌故。」是上二義也。

In the question are also two parts: first, the compiler of the sūtra sets the sequence. Why does Mañjuśrī ask and Bhadramukha answer? Because faith gathers the myriad practices, and without Wondrous Virtue (Mañjuśrī) it cannot be initiated; faith encompasses the six stages, and without Worthy Virtue (Bhadramukha) it cannot be propagated. Furthermore, penetrating the profound manifests wisdom, and pure virtue illustrates merit. Second, the direct question in verse, within which are two: 1. Concluding the preceding; 2. Asking about the subsequent, within which are also two: first asking about the extremely profound practice, and later asking about the vast virtue. Why are the question and answer here both in verse? Two meanings explain this: First, because the initial virtue is deep and broad, penetrating through to the ultimate end, prose exposition could hardly be comprehensive; thus, verses are used to encompass it completely. Second, to reveal the excellence of complete virtue, fine words are used to praise it. The Dàzhìdù lùn says: "Verses gather many meanings with few words; praises mostly use verses." These are the two meanings above.