金光明最勝王經疏 5.620

5.620

解妨者，問：地神請佛說王正法，何不自說指往事耶？答：欲明三世法皆同故。法尊勝故，不自親說，但舉往事。問：若爾，何故不舉過去佛說，而引力尊幢王耶？答：理國依俗事，故舉過去梵王所說。據實，梵王亦佛邊聞，為四王說。如下善生於寶積所聞《金光明》，不云佛說。問：往力尊王并子妙幢，今誰是耶？答：有釋妙幢即今妙幢。又云：即釋迦佛。詳此二釋無文遮許，取捨任情。

Resolving objections: Question: The Earth Spirit requested the Buddha to expound the king's correct law; why did he not speak it himself, but instead pointed to past events? Answer: Because he wished to make clear that the teachings of the three times are all identical. Because the Dharma is supreme and venerable, he did not expound it directly himself, but merely cited past events. Question: If so, why did he not cite the teaching of a past Buddha, but instead cited King Balendraketu? Answer: Governing a country relies on conventional worldly affairs; therefore he cited what was spoken by a past Brahmā king. In fact, the Brahmā king also heard it from a Buddha and spoke it for the Four Kings. Just as below, when Sujāta heard the Golden Light at the dwelling of Ratnarāśi, it is not said to have been spoken by a Buddha. Question: As for the past King Balendra and his son Ruciraketu, who are they now? Answer: One interpretation says Ruciraketu is the present Bodhisattva Ruciraketu. Another says: he is Śākyamuni Buddha. Scrutinizing these two interpretations, there is no textual evidence prohibiting or endorsing either; accepting or rejecting is left to one's inclination.