阿彌陀經要解 1.21

1.21

德臘俱尊故名長老。舍利弗此云鶖鷺子，亦云身子，母身端正眼如鶖鷺，從母得名也，聲聞眾中智慧第一。摩訶目犍連此云大采菽氏，神通第一。摩訶迦葉此云大飲光，身有金色光明，頭陀勝行第一，傳佛心印為西土初祖。摩訶迦旃延此云大文飾，南天竺婆羅門種，論議第一。摩訶拘絺羅此云大膝，即舍利弗之母舅，答問第一。離婆多此云星宿，無倒亂第一。周利槃陀伽此云繼道，因根鈍故調息悟道，僅持一偈入定演說辯才無盡，義持第一。難陀此云喜，佛之親弟，儀容第一。阿難陀此云慶喜，佛之堂弟，復為侍者，多聞第一。羅睺羅此云覆障，佛之太子，密行第一。憍梵波提此云牛呞，宿世惡口感此餘報，受天供養第一。賓頭盧此云不動，尊者之名，頗羅墮此云利根，尊者之姓，久住世間應末世供，福田第一。迦留陀夷此云黑光，為佛使者，教化第一。摩訶劫賓那此云房宿，知星宿第一。薄拘羅此云善容，壽命第一。阿㝹樓馱或云阿那律陀，此翻無貧又翻無滅又翻如意，亦佛堂弟，天眼第一。如是等諸大弟子者，結略指餘也。此等諸大弟子本是法身大士，亦作聲聞為影響眾，今於此會同聞淨土攝受功德，則能得第一義悉檀之益，任運增道損生自淨佛土，復名當機眾矣。

Being revered in both virtue and monastic seniority, they are called elders. Śāriputra translates here as "son of the egret", and also as "body son"; his mother's body was shapely and her eyes were like an egret's, so he took his name from his mother; among the śrāvakas, he was foremost in wisdom. Mahāmaudgalyāyana translates here as "great bean-gatherer clan"; he was foremost in supernatural powers. Mahākāśyapa translates here as "great drinker of light"; his body had golden radiance, he was foremost in the superior practice of dhūta austerities, and having received the Buddha's mind seal, he was the first patriarch in the Western Lands. Mahākātyāyana translates here as "great ornate adornment", from a brāhmaṇa clan of South India; he was foremost in debate. Mahākauṣṭhila translates here as "great knees", the maternal uncle of Śāriputra; he was foremost in answering questions. Revata translates here as "constellation"; he was foremost in freedom from confusion and disorder. Śuddhipanthaka translates here as "successor of the road"; because his faculties were dull, he regulated his breath and awakened to the Way, upholding merely a single gāthā to enter samādhi and expound the Dharma with inexhaustible eloquence; he was foremost in retaining meanings. Nanda translates here as "joy", the Buddha's younger brother; he was foremost in deportment. Ānanda translates here as "rejoicing", the Buddha's cousin and his attendant; he was foremost in much hearing. Rāhula translates here as "obstruction", the Buddha's son; he was foremost in esoteric conduct. Gavāmpati translates here as "ox cud"; having spoken evil words in a past life, he suffered this residual retribution; he was foremost in receiving offerings from devas. Piṇḍola translates here as "immovable", the venerable one's name, and Bhāradvāja translates here as "sharp faculty", the venerable one's clan name; he long remains in the world to receive offerings in the final age, and is foremost as a field of merit. Kālodayin translates here as "black light"; as the Buddha's messenger, he was foremost in transforming and guiding. Mahākapphiṇa translates here as "lunar mansion"; he was foremost in knowing the constellations. Vakkula translates here as "fine countenance"; he was foremost in lifespan. Aniruddha, also called Anuruddha, translates as "without poverty", "without annihilation", and "in accordance with wish", also the Buddha's cousin; he was foremost in the divine eye. "And other great disciples such as these" summarizes and indicates the rest. These great disciples were originally great beings of the dharmakāya who also manifested as śrāvakas to serve as the accompanying assembly; now in this assembly, hearing together the merits of the Pure Land's embracement, they are able to obtain the benefit of the primary truth siddhānta, naturally advancing on the Path and reducing births, purifying their own Buddha-lands, and are also called the assembly of suitable capacities.