Even birds’ cries, too—
the thickets of the secret
mountain of vows.

Meaning

On this sacred mountain where the secret practices of Shingon are upheld, even the birds’ cries seem to bear that secrecy, sounding from the deep and mysterious thickets.

Commentary

Volume Three, Butsuhōsō.

“Secret” refers to the esoteric secrets of Shingon; Shingon signifies the inner teachings (the words of the Buddha). Mount Kōya, where these teachings are handed down, is thus called “the secret mountain.”

Author

Ueda Akinari

Source

Ugetsu Monogatari

Other

So greatly, even so, the ancient Mama no Tegona was loved like this— so must she have been loved, Mama no Tegona of Mama.
At Matsunoo peak, in the quiet dawn of light, I lift my gaze— listening as I look up, the Butsuhōsō cries.
Even if forgot, will a traveler draw and drink from Tamagawa— in the depths of Mount Kōya, these waters of Tamagawa?
In anguish falls this rain that pours and pours— Miwa’s cape; at Sano’s crossing there is not even a house at all.

Even birds’ cries, too— the thickets of the secret mountain of vows.

Even birds’ cries, too—
the thickets of the secret
mountain of vows.