華嚴經探玄記 5.110

5.110

Second, in the verse section there are twenty gāthās: the first thirteen praise the eleven kinds of practical dharmas in the preceding first section, and the latter seven gāthās praise the virtues achieved by the eighteen kinds of practice below. In the former, the first four gāthās praise the first two sections: the first verse and a half praises practice becoming ever more superior, calling the abode of first giving rise to the mind the first bhūmi. Having already attained the treasury of merit from giving rise to the mind, it is therefore said to 'nurture.' The next line praises the destruction of heedlessness. The next line praises leaving behind the darkness of ignorance. The next two lines praise not forgetting the bodhicitta and so forth. The bottom two lines praise the Tathāgata's rejoicing. The next single gāthā again praises the superiority of practice: the first three lines praise non-retrogression, and the bottom single line praises leaving behind householder and renunciant worldlings; the rest is omitted and not versified. The latter single gāthā again praises the Buddha's rejoicing, which can be understood. Next there are two gāthās praising the next three sections: the first five lines skip forward to praise the fourth, pure practice; the next single line, 'fully endowed with the various bhūmis,' refers back to praise the third, what is abided in. The half gāthā below 'merit' praises the fifth, the fulfillment of great vows. The next half praises the sixth, attaining the bodhisattva treasury. The next verse and a half praises the seventh, transforming and liberating them according to what is appropriate. The next single gāthā praises the eighth, not abandoning the pāramitās. The next single gāthā praises the ninth, completely liberating sentient beings in accordance with what is requested. The next single gāthā praises the tenth, flourishing the Triratna. The next two praise that which is done by the bodhisattva is not in vain. From here down, seven gāthās praise the virtues achieved through practice, in which the first verse and a half praises the passage on the causal perfection and the fruit fullness among the first nine phrases of the eighteen phrases. The next two verses and a half praise protecting and upholding the true Dharma and expounding extensively, and so forth. The next three gāthās praise the passage on the benefits of the three karmas in the eighteenth, praising the above calm, dignified, fierce, firm, and profound exposition of Dharma to eliminate defilements in the great assembly. Below, it clarifies that because what was spoken accords with the principle, the Tathāgata rejoices accordingly; because what was spoken matches the capacity, the great assembly puts it into practice. Above concludes the third assembly.