阿彌陀經疏 1.110

1.110

「法王子」者，謂從佛化生、從佛口生。佛為法王，人為法子。彼菩薩堪嗣聖種，故言法王子。《佛地論》云：從世尊口正法生故，能紹佛種令不斷絕，名法王子。十住菩薩名法王子住。何以故？次紹佛位故，何況其人過去佛也！但示為菩薩，堪繼法王故。《放鉢經》云：釋迦佛言：「我今得佛是文殊恩，文殊是我過去本師，過去無數諸佛皆文殊弟子，當來亦爾，文殊者佛道中之父母也。」

"Prince of the Dharma" means being born through transformation from the Buddha, born from the Buddha's mouth. The Buddha is the King of the Dharma, and this person is a child of the Dharma. That bodhisattva is capable of succeeding to the holy lineage, hence called Prince of the Dharma. The *Buddhabhūmi-śāstra* states: Because of being born from the mouth of the World-Honoured One through the true Dharma, capable of carrying on the Buddha's lineage without letting it be severed, one is called a Prince of the Dharma. Bodhisattvas of the tenth abode are called [dwelling in] the abode of the Prince of the Dharma. Why? Because they are next in line to succeed to the Buddha's position; how much more so for this person who was a past Buddha! Merely manifesting as a bodhisattva, he is capable of succeeding the King of the Dharma. The *Fangbo jing* states: Śākyamuni Buddha said: 'That I have now attained Buddhahood is due to the grace of Mañjuśrī; Mañjuśrī was my original teacher in the past, and countless Buddhas in the past were all Mañjuśrī's disciples, as will be those in the future; Mañjuśrī is the father and mother within the Buddha path.'