金光明最勝王經疏 5.72

5.72

The commentary states: The benefits of propagating the sūtra. There are two parts: first, explaining the benefits of propagating the sūtra in the present; second, from 'O great king, if in the future...' onward, explaining the benefits of propagating it in the future. In the first part, it only speaks of the human king listening himself; the subsequent text additionally encourages making offerings to those who uphold it. In the present, the Buddha propagates the sūtra himself without relying on the power of others; in the future, when other people uphold and read it, they will require the king's protection, because master and disciple are different. This explains the present benefits, wherein first the king obtains benefits, and subsequently the people obtain benefits. Within the king's obtaining benefits, it first explains the king's practice, and subsequently, from 'in order to quell decline and affliction' onward, it explains the obtaining of benefits. Within obtaining benefits, there is first a general statement and then specific ones. The general statement has two parts: first, adducing one instance; and subsequently, from 'and will also cause...' onward, extending it by analogy to the rest. The first part has four aspects: 1. eliminating decline; 2. obtaining benefit; 3. receiving protection; 4. being free from enemies.