Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas as many as the particles of earth of one thousand Sumeru-worlds obtained the faculty of attaining Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi after eight rebirths. Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas four times the number of the particles of earth of the four continents obtained the faculty of attaining Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi after four rebirths. Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas three times the number of the particles of earth of the four continents obtained the faculty of attaining Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi after three rebirths. Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas twice the number of the particles of earth of the four continents obtained the faculty of attaining Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi after two rebirths. Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas as many as the particles of earth of the four continents obtained the faculty of attaining Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi immediately after this life. Living beings as many as the particles of earth of eight Sumeru-worlds aspired for Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.”

In [the phrase] were destined after eight rebirths to gain the unexcelled bodhi (Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi), this [eight rebirths] refers to the eighth stage. Because for one who is beyond the eighth stage there is no more reincarnation, how can it be known whether his wisdom is bright or dark? Therefore, by resorting to eight rebirths [instead of “stages”], [the Buddha makes beings] realize that the Buddha shall have been gone a long time before. “One rebirth” is the number through which Maitreya, for example, is destined to go. Likewise there may be two [rebirths] or three, up to eight. Eight refers to many births. Many births, hence, they know, or they may also be ignorant of it. [The Buddha] does not speak of ten rebirths, because ten is one ultimate of numbers, with the meaning of “a great many,” and he intends to show that the bodhisattvas still have some delusions and instigators of depravities left, a little short [of annihilation]. Hence, eight is resorted to. [The Buddha] goes directly to “four births” without mentioning six [rebirths], wishing to demonstrate that the sūtra is so profound and deep, darkly drawing one to enlightenment and entrance into reality. [The bodhisattvas who are in the stages] from transcendence to four rebirths reveal this intent. The fact that from four rebirths to one rebirth they proceed by degrees without skipping steps has the implication that li becomes [increasingly] wondrous [as they proceed]. That those who are enlightened also [gradually] become less [in number], and that it is hard to quickly attain [enlightenment], attests to this idea.