大方廣佛華嚴經疏 3.17

3.17

Ninth, within the comprehensive explanation of the title, I first explain the sūtra title and afterwards clarify the chapter designations. Now, the first.
The comprehensive title encompasses specific meanings and embraces an inconceivable Dharma gate; though fundamentally nameless, it is forcefully differentiated through ten gates: 1. Generally revealing how it derives its name; 2. Juxtaposing and distinguishing separation and combination; 3. Fully displaying the categories of meaning; 4. Specifically explaining how each derives its name; 5. Unfolding infinitely; 6. Rolling up and gathering all marks completely; 7. Unfolding and rolling up without obstruction; 8. Perfectly subsuming by virtue of meaning; 9. Gathering back into the one mind; 10. Obliterating distinctions in total equality.
Now, the first. The derivation of titles for sūtras is manifold: some are named after persons, some after phenomena. For persons, there are differences such as the requester and the speaker; for phenomena, there are distinctions such as phenomena and metaphor. Some are the essence and some are the function; some are the fruit and some are the cause. Sometimes compound and sometimes single, their varieties are numerous and broad.
The present sūtra's receiving its title is likewise diverse and different: First, revealing its name from number: as in the Liang dynasty's Mahāyānasaṃgraha, under the tenth superlative mark, it says: 'The hundred-thousand-verse sūtra is the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, having one hundred thousand verses.' Second, receiving its name from metaphor: as in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra and the Guan Fo Sanmei Jing, which name this sūtra the Miscellaneous Flowers Sūtra (Zahua Jing), because the myriad practices are intermingled and assembled through pratītyasamutpāda. Third, revealing its name from Dharma: as in the Dazhidu Lun's explanation of the 'Entrustment Chapter', which names this sūtra the Inconceivable Liberation Sūtra. Fourth, receiving its name from meaning and function: as below in the 'Chapter on Transcending the World' and the 'Chapter on the Manifestation [of the Tathāgata]', which each provide ten names. According to the present Sanskrit manuscript, it is called Mahā-vaipulya-buddhagaṇḍavyūha-sūtra, which is translated here as 'Great Broad and Expansive Buddha Miscellaneous Flower-Adorned Sūtra'; here, the words 'Miscellaneous' and 'Decorated' are merely omitted.
The former three alternative names are largely general and abbreviated in meaning; the ten designations in the two chapters mostly follow specific meanings, and are further confined to those chapters themselves. Therefore, the present translators fully used the six characters for the title, so that person and Dharma are both expressed, Dharma and metaphor are raised together, essence and function are fully present, and fruit and cause are both included. The noumenon is exhausted and the meaning is perfect, which is why it is posted at the head of the sūtra.