金剛般若論會釋 1.103

1.103

The distinct explanation of the sūtra text is divided into three: first, the question; second, the answer; and third, the conclusion. In the treatise there are also three: first, explaining the words "giving birth to" and so forth in the conclusion; second, matching them to the five meanings; and third, resolving difficult points. In the first part, there are two: first, the question; second, the answer. The dharma of verbal expression has sound and name as its entity, and is not truly the dharmakāya; why, in this non-body, is it said to be able to generate merit? This is the intent of the question. Regarding "a single four-line verse," various explanations differ. The explanation above is that each takes the primary subject illuminated by the sūtra in question, manifesting a complete meaning, which is called a "line" (pada); manifesting four lines of meaning, without a fixed number of words, is called a single verse (śloka). A short line has three or four words; a long line has seven or nine words; one neither long nor short has five words. In Sanskrit texts, what is neither long nor short is the anuṣṭubh, which is eight syllables; at most thirty-two syllables, and at least eight syllables or fewer is called a line; Chinese rules are not fixed.