阿彌陀經通贊疏 2.69

2.69

The Praise says: The second [part] lists their names individually. As for white cranes, cinnabar red forms their crown and frost-white snow forms their feathers; when they cry, their call resounds through the nine marshes, and when they dance, they gracefully harmonize with the eight seasons; being completely different from ordinary birds, they are called white cranes. As for peacocks, they are naturally born spiritual birds, far removed from ordinary fowl; on their heads they wear green crests and their bodies are adorned with multiple colors; hence they are called peacocks. As for parrots, their feathers are adorned like jade and their beaks are decorated with vermilion red; their wings are light and agile so they can fly, and their tongues are slender and long so they can speak; hence they are called parrots. 'Śāri' is Sanskrit, and here means the egret bird (qiūlù); they are young and agile, agile and intelligent, able to fly ten thousand miles on their necks, and adding wondrously to thousands of melodies. As for 'kalaviṅka', here it means 'bird of wondrous voice'; its sound is melodious and exquisite and its body is extraordinary; those who hear it listen closely and devote their hearts, and those who see it are delighted in spirit and pleased in thought; it is the bird of wondrous voice. As for 'jīvaṃjīvaka' (sharing life), it is also called mìngmìng; with beautiful voices they proclaim the Dharma, with swift wings they fly lightly, possessing human faces and bird bodies, with two heads on one body; hence they are called 'sharing life'.