According to Tendai’s “Branches of the Lotus Sutra,” the parables are divided into two portions, the exposition and the explanation of correspondences.

Correspondences for the Parable of the Priceless Gem in the Top-Knot

Just as the powerful wheel-rolling king desires to conquer other lands by force, the Tathāgata by his powers of meditation and wisdom has taken possession of the domain of the Dharma, and rules as king over the triple world.

Just as, when minor kings do not obey him, he calls up his armies and goes to punish them, the Tathāgata’s wise and holy generals fight with the Māra kings, for they are unwilling to submit.

Just as the king, seeing his soldiers distinguish themselves in battle, is greatly pleased, the Tathāgata is pleased with those who distinguish themselves.

Just as the king rewards his soldiers according to their merit with villages, cities, garments, ornaments, or with all kinds of precious jewels, etc., the Tathāgata in the midst of the four groups preaches the sutras, causing them to rejoice, and bestows on them the meditations, the emancipations, the faultless roots and powers, and all the wealth of the Dharma. In addition, he gives them the city of nirvana, saying they have attained extinction, and attracts their minds so that they all rejoice.

Just as it is only the bright jewel on his head that the king gives to no one, the Tathāgata does not preach this Law-Flower Sutra.

Just as the king, seeing among his soldiers those whose merits were particularly great, is so greatly pleased that he gives them the jewel from his head, the Tathāgata, as the great Dharma-king of the triple world, teaches and converts all living beings by the Dharma. When he sees his wise and holy army fighting the Māra of the five mental processes, the Māra of earthly cares, and the Māra of death, and doing so with great exploits and merits, exterminating the three poisons, escaping from the triple world, and breaking through the net of the Māras, then the Tathāgata is very pleased, and preaches the Law-Flower Sutra, which has never before been preached, and which is able to cause all the living to reach perfect knowledge, though all the world greatly resents and has difficulty in believing it. This Law-Flower Sutra is the foremost teaching of the tathāgatas and the most profound of all discourses. I give it, says the Buddha, to you last of all, just as that powerful king at last gives the brilliant jewel he has guarded for long.