Komurasaki tanabiku koto o shirube nite Kurai no yama no mine o tazunen - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

濃紫たなびく事をしるべにて
位の山の峰を尋ねん

Roma-ji: Komurasaki tanabiku koto o shirube nite Kurai no yama no mine o tazunen
English Translation: The trailing deep purple
I will take as my guide,
and with that to lead,
to the peak of Kurai Mountain
I will make my way and seek.
Meaning: Taking the trailing of deep purple as my guide, I will seek out the peak of Kurai Mountain, the Mountain of Rank.
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Congratulatory Poems 1170

Headnote: "When someone came of age and first put on the cap"
The poet says that, taking the trailing of deep purple as a guide, he will seek the peak of Kurai Mountain. The headnote shows it was composed to celebrate someone's coming of age, when he first put on the cap. Laying over the place name Kurai, "rank," the deep purple of the robes worn by those of high rank, it celebrates the young man's rise to high office in the years ahead.
The author, written as "Motosuke," is Kiyohara no Motosuke. The father of Sei Shōnagon, he took part in compiling the Gosenshū as one of the Five Men of the Pear Chamber. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
The second line of the main text reads "tanabiku koto o," which does not match "tanabiku kumo o" in the reading line. Here the main text is followed.

First line, "komurasaki," means "deep purple," the color of the robes worn by those of high rank.
Second line, "tanabiku koto o," means "its trailing," calling to mind the auspicious sign of purple clouds trailing across the sky.
Third line, "shirube nite," means "as my guide."
Fourth line, "Kurai no yama no," means "of Kurai Mountain" in Hida Province, layering the sense of court rank over the place name.
Final line, "mine o tazunen," means "I will seek the peak," with "n" an auxiliary of intention, layering high rank over the high peak.
Author: Kiyohara no Motosuke
Source: Shui Wakashu
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