維摩義記 1.48

1.48

自下第二如來歎問勅聽許說。先歎、次勅、後許宣說。歎中「善哉」，是總歎也。善猶好也，所請事善。哉是助辭。「乃能為諸菩薩問」等，出其善事。乃者是其希越之辭。無量眾生皆不能問，至汝方堪，故曰乃能。前兩句中，據後以歎，是故偏言為諸菩薩問淨土行。若就前句，應言乃能願聞得佛國土清淨，略不云耳。「諦聽善思」，勅誡辭也。諦謂審諦，善謂委善。諦聽得聞，善思得義，故竝勅之。念能堅持文義不失，故復教念。為汝許說。

From here below is the second [division]: the Tathāgata praises the question, enjoins them to listen, and grants permission to expound. First he praises, next he enjoins, and finally he grants permission to expound. In the praise, 'Excellent!' is a general praise. 'Excellent' (善) means good; the matter requested is good. '!' (哉) is an auxiliary particle. 'That you are able, on behalf of the bodhisattvas, to ask...', and so forth, brings out the good matter. 'That you are able' (乃) is an expression of rare pre-eminence. Immeasurable sentient beings are all unable to ask; only when it comes to you are you capable of it; hence it says 'that you are able'. In the previous two lines, the praise is based on the latter [part of the request], which is why it speaks one-sidedly of asking about the pure land practices on behalf of the bodhisattvas. If based on the former line, it should have said 'that you are able to wish to hear about attaining the purity of the Buddha's country', but this is omitted. 'Listen attentively and reflect well' are words of injunction and admonition. 'Attentively' means carefully and thoroughly; 'well' means minutely and skillfully. Listening attentively, one attains hearing; reflecting well, one attains the meaning; therefore he enjoins both together. Mindfully being able to retain the words and meanings without losing them, he therefore additionally instructs mindfulness. He grants permission to expound for them.