請觀音經疏闡義鈔 2.75

2.75

經「五百長者」，《風俗通》云「耆年德艾、事長於人，以之為長者也。」彼國有五百家，悉曰離車，傳禪（去聲）為王。離車，翻傳授國政，蓋由此矣。此五百長者共行道法，率土人民莫不歸德。而月蓋為首者，爾時為國主也。故《維摩．香積品》云「於是長者主月蓋，從八萬四千人來。」是也。

Regarding the sūtra's "five hundred elders," the Fengsu tong states: "Those of advanced age and mature virtue, whose matters surpass those of others, are therefore called elders." In that country there were five hundred families, all called Licchavi, who ruled by turns of abdication. Licchavi translates as "transmitting and bestowing state governance," which is probably derived from this. These five hundred elders jointly practiced the methods of the Path, and none among the people of the land failed to take refuge in their virtue. That Candraprabha was their leader was because at that time he was the sovereign of the state. Therefore, the "Fragrance Accumulation Chapter" of the Vimalakīrti states: "Thereupon, the elder and chief Candraprabha came with eighty-four thousand people." This is it.