金剛般若經旨贊 1.89

1.89

所言偈者。梵云伽他。伽他不同有二種。戍路迦。戍路迦者。此云數字。不約顯義。但數八字。數八字為句。四句為偈。即如此方數紙言等。嗢陀南者。此云攝散。不限字數。但依顯義。顯義周圓。即名為句。四句成偈。如詩頌等。今四句偈。但取前義。異此云云。皆為謬說。言乃至者。顯就少說極。少受持一四句偈。福尚勝彼。況能盡持所成佛果。福相法身故。於福相。應如是住。

As for the word "verse," in Sanskrit it is *gāthā*. *Gāthās* differ, having two kinds: *śloka*. A *śloka* is translated here as "counting syllables"; it is not concerned with revealing meaning, but simply counts eight syllables. Counting eight syllables makes a line, and four lines make a verse, just like counting sheets and words in this land. An *udāna* is translated here as "gathering the scattered"; it is not limited by the number of syllables, but relies solely on revealing the meaning: when the revealed meaning is complete, it is called a line, and four lines form a verse, like poetic verses. Now, "a four-line verse" takes only the former meaning; statements differing from this are all erroneous explanations. The words "even up to" indicate speaking of the absolute minimum: minimally receiving and retaining even a single four-line verse, the merit still surpasses the former, how much more so being able to retain it all to accomplish the Buddha-fruit, the dharmakāya of the marks of merit! Therefore, concerning the marks of merit, one should abide thus.