金光明最勝王經疏 1.63

1.63

Commentary: Praising their virtues. According to the *Fahua jing lun* (*Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-upadeśa*), there are sixteen phrases praising the virtues of an arhat. Although the sequence of the text in the present sūtra differs, the general meaning is the same; following that treatise, they are explained as sixteen phrases. That treatise cites the sūtra as saying: 'They were all arhats, their outflows already ended, without remaining afflictions, having attained true mastery'—which corresponds to this sūtra's 'having attained great mastery.' 'Having well attained mental liberation, having well attained liberation through wisdom' corresponds to this sūtra's 'their minds well liberated, through wisdom well liberated.' 'Their minds well subdued' corresponds to this sūtra's 'able to well subdue.' 'Also like great nāga kings' corresponds to this sūtra's 'like great elephant kings.' 'Having done what was to be done' corresponds to this sūtra's 'abiding in pure precepts.' 'Having accomplished what was to be accomplished' corresponds to this sūtra's 'what was to be done having been completed, having abandoned all heavy burdens, having attained their own benefit, having exhausted the fetters of existence.' 'Having well attained mental liberation through correct knowledge' corresponds to this sūtra's 'having realized the eight liberations.' 'Having attained mastery of mind' corresponds to this sūtra's 'skill in means, adorned with wisdom.' This is because skill in means is also subsumed under wisdom. 'Foremost and ultimate, having reached the other shore' corresponds to this sūtra's 'having reached the other shore.' The treatise provides three rounds of explanation: first, the gateway of progressive arising; second, the gateway of general and specific characteristics; third, the gateway of subsuming deeds. Regarding the gateway of progressive arising, for now we follow the treatise in matching the text, the full explanation being as found in the root *Fahua shu*. Either because of an upper phrase a lower phrase arises, or because of a lower phrase an upper phrase arises; since it is not singular, it is called progressive arising. Following the treatise, here the fourth phrase should be used to explain the first phrase; the sixth and seventh phrases to explain the second phrase, 'like great elephant kings'; the ninth and tenth phrases to explain the third phrase; the twelfth phrase to explain the fourth phrase; and the fourth phrase to explain the fifth phrase.