金光明經文句記 1.72

1.72

初、聞者四能。三藏教中，阿難一身而有四德，故受四名。典藏出《阿含》，餘三出《正法念》。今演小名對於四教，義與名合。阿難梵語，歡喜華言。佛成道夜生，舉國歡喜，因以為名。從緣立名，符生滅法，傳持三藏，宜用此名。通教所說體事即理，異凡俗見，宜用賢名。別教五談塵沙佛法，多所主領，宜典藏名。圓教始終詮法界理，既深且廣，宜用海名。

First, the four abilities of the hearer. In the Tripiṭaka Teaching, Ānanda in one single person had four virtues, and therefore received four names. "Keeper of the Canon" comes from the Āgamas; the other three come from the *Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra*. Now, expanding the lesser names to correspond to the four teachings, the meanings match the names. Ānanda is Sanskrit; in Chinese it is translated as "Joy." He was born on the night the Buddha attained awakening, and the entire country rejoiced, so he was named after that. Establishing a name based on conditions accords with the dharmas of arising and ceasing; for transmitting and upholding the Tripiṭaka, this name is appropriate. What is taught in the Shared Teaching takes phenomena as identical to principle, differing from the views of ordinary worldly people; the name "Worthy" is appropriate. The Distinct Teaching speaks extensively of Buddha-dharmas as numerous as dust and sand, mastering and overseeing much; the name "Keeper of the Canon" is appropriate. The Perfect Teaching from beginning to end explains the principle of the dharma realm, which is both profound and vast; the name "Ocean" is appropriate.