Suminoe ni itsuku hafuri ga kamugoto to yuku tomo ku tomo fune wa hayakemu

住吉に斎く祝が神言と
行くとも来とも船は早けむ

Roma-ji: Suminoe ni itsuku hafuri ga kamugoto to yuku tomo ku tomo fune wa hayakemu
English Translation: At Suminoe
the priest who serves the god there
speaks the god's own word—
whether going or returning,
swift will be your ship
Meaning: The priest who serves the god at Suminoe has spoken the god's word: whether going or returning, your ship will be swift.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4243

Headnote: "A poem by Tajihi no Mahito Hanishi, Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs"
Composed at the farewell banquet for the embassy, it presents as a divine oracle spoken by the priest who serves the god of Suminoe that the ship will be swift both going and returning, assuring a safe voyage and encouraging the envoys.
The god of Suminoe was worshiped as protector of voyages, and embassies to Tang prayed there before sailing. Framing the words as an oracle lends firm power to the farewell. The embassy to Tang China led by Fujiwara no Kiyokawa as ambassador was appointed in 750 and sailed from Naniwa in 752.
The poet, Tajihi no Hanishi, was a Nara-period official serving at this time as Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs. He later rose to Consultant.

First line, "Suminoe ni" (at Suminoe), names the place where the guardian god of voyages is worshiped.
Second line, "itsuku hafuri ga" (the priest who serves): "hafuri" is a Shinto priest who conveys the god's will.
Third line, "kamugoto to" (as the god's word), marks what follows as divine oracle.
Fourth line, "yuku tomo ku tomo" (whether going or coming), covers the whole round voyage.
Fifth line, "fune wa hayakemu" (the ship will be swift), closes like a prophecy of safe passage.
Author: Tajihi no Hanishi
Source: Manyoshu
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