Ametsuchi ni tarawashi terite waga ōkimi shikimaseba kamo tanoshiki osato

天地に足らはし照りて我が大君
敷きませばかも楽しき小里

Roma-ji: Ametsuchi ni tarawashi terite waga ōkimi shikimaseba kamo tanoshiki osato
English Translation: Filling heaven and earth,
shining forth in brilliance,
our great lord
ruling here—is that the reason
this village is so joyful?
Meaning: Is it because our great lord, shining and filling heaven and earth, rules over it that this little village is so full of joy?
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4272

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Four poems from the imperial banquet held at the residence of the Minister of the Left, Tachibana no Ason, on the eighth day of the eleventh month"
Closing the four poems from the imperial banquet at Tachibana no Moroe's residence, it praises the sovereign's virtue and the joy of the banquet: is it because our lord, shining and filling heaven and earth, rules here that this village is so delightful?
The left note says, "The above poem: Junior Counselor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi [not presented]," showing it was prepared but not offered at the banquet. These poems come from an imperial banquet given when the Retired Emperor Shōmu visited the residence of the Minister of the Left, Tachibana no Moroe, on the eighth day of the eleventh month of 752.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Junior Counselor in 751, he returned from Etchū to the capital at Heijō-kyō, where he took part in court banquets as an official. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "ametsuchi ni" (in heaven and earth), shows the vastness of the sovereign's virtue.
Second line, "tarawashi terite" (filling and shining), praises his majesty.
Third line, "waga ōkimi" (our great lord), refers to the Retired Emperor Shōmu.
Fourth line, "shikimaseba kamo" (is it because he rules?): "shiku" means to govern, "masu" is honorific, and "kamo" binds with the last line.
Fifth line, "tanoshiki osato" (this delightful village), ends on a noun; "o" is a prefix, praising the area of the residence.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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