金光明最勝王經疏 2.19

2.19

贊曰：就此品中，大文分二：初總說菩提涅槃、二「爾時妙幢菩薩親於佛前」已下別明涅槃。初文有五：一妙幢疑佛壽促、二他佛說命無窮、三釋迦自陳常安、四喜見重成不滅、五時眾領解獲益結成。初文有三：一舉念請人、二明所疑境、三述疑所因。初文又三：一明住處、二列其名、三略歎德。此初二文，勝智逈秀獨超群表，假喻立稱，名曰妙幢。梵云鴝嚧只囉，此云妙鷄頭。云幢，彗星名幢，舊云信相。相者，梵云耶瑟致。今既云鴝嚧只囉，鷄頭故名妙幢。信性是淨，妙義相似。幢者高顯，故謬云相。

Commentary: Within this chapter, the main text divides into two: first, a general explanation of bodhi and nirvāṇa; second, from 'At that time, Bodhisattva Ruciraketu, in person before the Buddha' onwards, a specific clarification of nirvāṇa. The first text has five parts: 1. Ruciraketu doubts the shortness of the Buddha's life; 2. other Buddhas preach the endlessness of his life; 3. Śākyamuni himself explains his constant peace; 4. Priyadarśana reinforces his non-extinction; 5. the assembly at that time understands, receives benefit, and concludes it. The first part has three: 1. citing the person who conceives the thought and asks; 2. clarifying the object of his doubt; 3. recounting the cause of his doubt. The first part further has three: 1. clarifying his dwelling place; 2. listing his name; 3. briefly praising his virtues. These first two texts: with supreme wisdom towering high and uniquely surpassing the multitude, a name was established through a metaphor, calling him Ruciraketu. In Sanskrit it is Ruciraketu; here it is translated as Miaojitou ('Wondrous Cock's Comb'). Regarding 'banner' (ketu): a comet is called a banner; formerly it was translated as Xinxiang ('Faith Characteristic'). 'Characteristic' (lakṣaṇa/yaṣṭi): in Sanskrit it is yaṣṭi. Now since it says rucira, ketu is therefore translated as 'Wondrous Banner'. The nature of faith is pure, and its meaning is similar to 'wondrous'. A 'banner' is high and eminent, hence they erroneously called it 'characteristic'.