維摩經略疏 3.48

3.48

「若在長者，長者中尊，為說勝法」，此下歎尊勝之德用口密方便益物。大士無方尊卑皆現，今偏舉尊勝者，為成歎德，故。德為物軌，居群賢之上。言長者中尊者，世間長者鄉閭懷勝，故自為貴。大士迹同，德過於彼，故為所尊。先說世俗勝法皆令揖伏，次赴四機說四勝法，既為所尊無不從順，引不思議四土。

"When among elders, he was honored among elders, preaching for them the supreme Dharma": from here downward praises his honorable and supreme virtue, using the expedient means of the oral secret to benefit beings. The Mahāsattva has no fixed form and manifests among both the high and the low; now mentioning only the honorable and supreme is to complete the praise of his virtues. His virtue was a model for beings, standing above the multitude of worthies. As for "honored among elders": worldly elders cherish superiority within their villages, and therefore consider themselves noble. The Mahāsattva's trace was identical to them, but his virtue surpassed theirs; thus he was honored by them. First he preached the supreme worldly Dharma to make them all bow and submit; next, responding to the four capacities, he preached the four supreme Dharmas; since he was honored by them, none failed to comply and follow, leading them to the inconceivable four lands.