維摩經疏 1.17

1.17

彼時佛下第三大段明其佛眾雲集所為。於中初明佛與諸眾圍遶說法。說何等法。文中不辨。不知說何。下明如來於眾獨勝。譬如須彌顯于大海。喻說顯勝。高顯獨出在於大海名顯。于海弊於諸眾合以顯勝也。

From 'at that time the Buddha' downward is the third major section, explaining the purpose for which the Buddha's assembly gathered like clouds. Therein, first it explains that the Buddha was surrounded by the assemblies and preached the Dharma. What kind of Dharma did he preach? The text does not distinguish it, so it is unknown what he preached. Below, it explains that the Tathāgata was uniquely supreme among the assembly: 'just as Mount Meru stands manifest in the great ocean.' A metaphor is spoken to display his supremacy: rising loftily and standing out uniquely above the great ocean is called 'manifest in the sea'; surpassing all the assemblies is combined to display his supremacy.