法の舟さして行く身ぞもろもろの
神も仏も我をみそなへ
神も仏も我をみそなへ
- Roma-ji
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Nori no fune sashite yuku mi zo moromoro no kami mo hotoke mo ware o misonae
- English Translation
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On the ship of Law
I set my pole and sail forth—
O all of you, then,
gods and buddhas together,
look upon me and watch over.
- Meaning
- I am one who poles the ship of the Dharma and sets out across the sea; all you gods and buddhas, look upon me and keep me safe.
- Commentary
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Book Twenty Buddhist Poems 1921
Headnote: "A poem composed on going to Tang China."
This is the sixth poem in the opening sequence of poems attributed to deities and eminent monks. Casting himself as one aboard the ship of the Dharma as he crosses the sea in search of the teaching, the poet asks all the gods and buddhas to watch over him. According to the headnote, it was composed when he set out for Tang China.
It expresses the resolve of one seeking the Dharma on a perilous voyage and an earnest prayer for divine protection.
The author, "Chishō Daishi," is Enchin. A Tendai monk of the early Heian period, he crossed to Tang China in Ninju 3 (853) to study esoteric Buddhism and other teachings, and after returning became head abbot of Enryaku-ji. Chishō Daishi is the title the court conferred on him after his death.
The first line, "nori no fune," likens the Dharma to a ship that carries people to the far shore. It also carries the sense of the actual ship bound for China.
In the second line, "sashite yuku mi zo," "sashite" is a pivot word meaning both poling a boat and heading for China. The particle "zo" gives emphasis, and the poem breaks after this line.
The third line, "moromoro no," means "all" and modifies the following "kami mo hotoke mo."
The fourth line, "kami mo hotoke mo," seeks protection not only from the buddhas but also from the gods, showing a wide prayer for safe passage.
The last line, "ware o misonae," uses the imperative of "misonau," an honorific for "to see," asking the sacred beings to look upon and protect him. Like the preceding poem's last line, "myōga arasetamae," it closes with a prayer addressed to sacred beings.
- Author
- Enchin
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Anokutara sanmyaku sanbodai no hotoketachi waga tatsu soma ni myōga arasetamae
- Next Poem
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Shirube aru toki ni dani yuke gokuraku no michi ni madoeru yo no naka no hito