うつせみは数なき身なり山川の
さやけき見つつ道を尋ねな
さやけき見つつ道を尋ねな
- Roma-ji
-
Utsusemi wa kazu naki mi nari yamakawa no sayakeki mitsutsu michi o tazunena
- English Translation
-
Of this mortal world
I am a being of no count;
gazing on the clear
purity of hill and stream,
let me seek the Way's true path
- Meaning
- In this mortal world I am a being of little worth; gazing on the clear beauty of mountains and rivers, let me seek the path of the Buddha.
- Commentary
-
Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4468
Headnote: "Two poems composed while lying ill, grieving at impermanence and wishing to follow the Way."
In this mortal world I am a being of no account; gazing on the clear beauty of mountain and river, let me seek the Way: a poem of impermanence felt in illness. According to the headnote, it was composed as he lay ill, grieving at the impermanence of the world and wishing to practice the Buddhist Way. The left note dates it to the seventeenth day of the sixth month, by Yakamochi. On the same day as the poems admonishing his clan, he sings of his own sense of impermanence, giving a glimpse of a wavering heart.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, son of Ōtomo no Tabito, was at this time Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs.
The first line, "utsusemi wa," means "those who live in this world."
The second line, "kazu naki mi nari," "a being of no account," ends the first sentence.
The third line, "yamakawa no," "of mountains and rivers," gives a natural scene.
The fourth line, "sayakeki mitsutsu," "gazing on their purity," uses the same word as "sayakeku" two poems before.
The closing line, "michi o tazunena," with na of intention: let me seek the Way. The next poem takes up "seek" and continues the wish for the Way.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Tsurugitachi iyoyo togubeshi inishie yu sayakeku oite kinishi sono na zo
- Next Poem
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Wataru hi no kage ni kioite tazunetena kiyoki sono michi mata mo awamu tame