Omou tomo ika ni shite ka wa shirube sen oshiuru michi ni iraba koso arame

思ふともいかにしてかはしるべせん
教ふる道に入らばこそあらめ

Roma-ji: Omou tomo ika ni shite ka wa shirube sen oshiuru michi ni iraba koso arame
English Translation: Though I wish it so,
how then could I ever be
a guide on your way?
Only if you yourselves
should enter the path taught.
Meaning: However much I might wish to, how could I ever be your guide? It would be different only if you yourselves entered the path that the Buddha teaches.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 741

Headnote: "Again in reply"
This is Saigyō's further reply. Even when asked to guide them, how could he lead the way? It would be different only if they entered the path the Buddha teaches. He counsels them that the way to enlightenment is not something another can lead you along; it opens only when you enter the Buddhist path yourself. 'Shirube sen' answers the preceding 'shirube seyo.'

First line, “omou tomo”: tomo is concessive, even though I wish to guide you.
Second line, “ika ni shite ka wa”: ka wa is rhetorical, how could I?
Third line, “shirube sen”: be a guide, answering 'kimi shirube seyo' in the fourth line of the preceding poem; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “oshiuru michi ni”: the path taught by the Buddha.
Fifth line, “iraba koso arame”: that would be another matter if you entered it; koso is answered by the perfective me.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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