金光明最勝王經疏 5.7

5.7

贊曰：此品之文，大分為四：一四王讚經尊勝、二「世尊我等四王」下四王述自修行、三「又復於此」下四王勸人弘經、四「大眾聞已」下時會依教修學。初文有四：一四王虔敬、二讚法為尊、三彰經力能、四請佛恒說。此初也。初列四名，持國、增長、廣目、多聞，如次東南西北典領，大都妙高第四層級，時復亦住持雙山頂。今此先列多聞王者，以其深信有勝名故。持國王領健達縛、畢舍遮；增長王領鳩畔荼、薜荔多；廣目王領一切諸龍及布呾那；多聞王領一切藥叉及羅剎娑。後虔敬。

Commentary: The text of this chapter is broadly divided into four: first, the Four Kings praise the sūtra's supreme dignity; second, from "World-Honoured One, we four kings..." onward, the Four Kings recount their own practice; third, from "Furthermore, in this..." onward, the Four Kings encourage people to propagate the sūtra; fourth, from "The great assembly, having heard..." onward, the assembly follows the instruction to cultivate and study. The first text has four [parts]: first, the Four Kings' reverent devotion; second, praising the Dharma as supreme; third, revealing the power and efficacy of the sūtra; fourth, requesting the Buddha to preach it constantly. This is the first. First, listing the four names: Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, Virūpākṣa, and Vaiśravaṇa, who in sequence govern the east, south, west, and north; their main abode is the fourth tier of Mount Meru, and from time to time they also dwell atop Mount Yugandhara. Here, King Vaiśravaṇa is listed first because of his deep faith and supreme renown. King Dhṛtarāṣṭra leads the gandharvas and piśācas; King Virūḍhaka leads the kumbhāṇḍas and pretas; King Virūpākṣa leads all nāgas and pūtanas; King Vaiśravaṇa leads all yakṣas and rākṣasas. The second [part] is their reverent devotion.