Yo no naka no tsune naki koto wa shiruramu o kokoro tsukusu na masurao ni shite

世間の常なきことは知るらむを
心尽くすな大夫にして

Roma-ji: Yo no naka no tsune naki koto wa shiruramu o kokoro tsukusu na masurao ni shite
English Translation: That in this world
nothing ever lasts for long
you surely know, so
do not wear your heart away,
you who are a man of spirit
Meaning: Surely you know that nothing in this world endures—so do not wear your heart away with grief, you who are a man of spirit.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4216

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "A lament, with short poems"; envoys, two poems
The second envoy to the lament, it encourages the grieving son-in-law: since he surely knows that nothing in the world endures, he should not wear himself out with grief, being a man of spirit. Following the shared weeping of the preceding poem, it shifts to the role of an elder who consoles and counsels.
Its appeal to impermanence to soften grief connects with the poems on impermanence from 4160 in this book, but here it serves as consolation in condolence. The left note says, "The above was composed by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to console his son-in-law, the second son of the Minister of the Right of the Southern House of Fujiwara, on the loss of his loving mother. Twenty-seventh day of the fifth month." It consoles the second son of Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Toyonari, said to be Yakamochi's son-in-law (most likely Fujiwara no Tsugutada), on the death of his mother.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. From 746 he served as Governor of Etchū, living at the provincial headquarters in what is now Fushiki, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. He is regarded as the leading poet of the Nara period and is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "yo no naka no" (of this world), takes the viewpoint of stating a universal truth.
Second line, "tsune naki koto wa" (that nothing endures), presents the Buddhist view of impermanence.
Third line, "shiruramu o" (you surely know, and yet): "ramu" is present conjecture, and "o" concessive, appealing to the other's understanding.
Fourth line, "kokoro tsukusu na" (do not exhaust your heart): "na" is a prohibition; the poem pauses here.
Fifth line, "masurao ni shite" (being a man of spirit), adds the ground for encouragement last by inversion.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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