Though you come after
me on the road I have taken,
parting from this world,
seek out the same place, you too,
where I am bound at the end

Meaning

Though you come after me on the road I took in parting from this world, seek out that same place yourself.

Commentary

Part Two: Yokobue

　The first anniversary of Kashiwagi's death came round. Genji privately set aside a generous offering on Kaoru's behalf as well, and the retired Chancellor, who knew nothing of the reason, was grateful for such kindness and grieved afresh. In the hills, Suzaku brooded over the misfortunes that had come one after another to his daughters—the Third Princess a nun, the Second Princess a widow. He sent bamboo shoots and wild yams gathered near his temple to the Third Princess, and added this poem. She answered at once, and father and daughter each thought of the other's mountain road.

　"Parting from this world" is leaving the secular life, that is, taking vows. "The road I have taken" is the way of the Buddha. "Though you come after me" has a father who went first calling back to his daughter. "Place" is a location, and it also sounds the name of the yams he sent, so that the gift and the poem are made one. Saying that they will meet in the same paradise says, from the other side, how unlikely it is that they will meet again here, and the depth of the parting comes through quietly.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Though you come after me on the road I have taken, parting from this world, seek out the same place, you too, where I am bound at the end

Though you come after
me on the road I have taken,
parting from this world,
seek out the same place, you too,
where I am bound at the end