大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 35.82

35.82

Regarding the commentary's citation, "*Vibhāṣā*, fascicle seventy-nine," and so forth: that [text] states: "The Vinaya says: The World-Honoured One at one time spoke the four noble truths for the four heavenly kings using the vernacular language of a border country in southern India, namely *e-ne-me-ne-yu-bu-da-la*—speaking the four noble truths in the language of the mlecchas, namely *ma-she-du-she-seng-she-ma-sa-fu-da-luo-pi-la-da*." The treatise cites the "round sound" of the *Vimalakīrti* as an objection, and below provides seven explanations: First, some make this explanation: The Buddha speaks the four noble truths with sacred speech, being able to make all beings to be converted understand. Why did he speak using such words as these? Answer: In order to fulfill their wishes, because those devas desired to hear it. (Below it cites them by taking their sense.) Second, furthermore, the World-Honoured One wished to manifest that he is able to understand well all speech and sounds, because there were those who doubted, thinking the Buddha could not speak other languages, and so forth. Third, furthermore, there are some to be converted who receive conversion depending on the Buddha's unchanging form and speech; there are some to be converted who receive conversion depending on the Buddha's changing form and speech. Fourth, there are also those who say: The Buddha speaking the four noble truths with a single sound cannot make all beings to be converted understand. Although the World-Honoured One possesses sovereign spiritual power, he cannot alter or transgress [the nature of] sensory spheres, just as he cannot make the ears see forms, and so forth. Resolving the objection about the "round sound", it says: Answer—there is no need to resolve it, because it is not from the Tripiṭaka. Many verses praising the Buddha speak beyond reality, such as that he is always in absorption and does not sleep, etc., which are all beyond reality. Fifth, furthermore, the Tathāgata's speech and sounds pervade all sound-spheres, and he is able to produce whatever speech is desired, so a gāthā says this. Sixth, furthermore, because the Buddha's speech turns lightly, sharply, and swiftly, it is said that the Buddha expounds the Dharma with a single sound, and sentient beings each understand according to their capacity. Seventh, furthermore, although the Tathāgata's speech and sounds are of many kinds, they are equally beneficial, hence it is said to be a "single sound". Explanation: However, among the seven explanations above, the first three can be accepted, while the latter four are shallow and crude, precisely because they were spoken by the Tripiṭaka of the Lesser Vehicle.