Tsutaekiku nagare nari tomo nori no mizu kumu hito kara ya fukaku naruran

伝へ聞く流れなりとも法の水
汲む人からや深くなるらん

Roma-ji: Tsutaekiku nagare nari tomo nori no mizu kumu hito kara ya fukaku naruran
English Translation: Though it's but a stream
that one hears of from afar,
the water of the Law,
by the heart of one who draws,
must surely grow deep.
Meaning: Though it reaches you only as a distant stream, the water of the Law must grow deep according to the one who draws it.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 857

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Jakuchō's reply. Even if the teaching reaches you only as a distant stream, the water of the Law must grow deep according to the one who draws it, he writes. Taking up 'hear of its fame' with 'hear from afar,' he praises Saigyō's faith, saying that one who hears from a distance may take the Law more deeply still.

First line, “tsutaekiku”: to hear at second hand, taking up 'na o kiku.'
Second line, “nagare nari tomo”: nagare is the lower course of a stream, a figure for the line of teaching.
Third line, “nori no mizu”: the Law likened to water, related to the stream of the second line.
Fourth line, “kumu hito kara ya”: kara is according to; ya is answered by ran in the fifth line.
Fifth line, “fukaku naruran”: must grow deep, fukashi also related to water.
Author: Jakuchō
Source: Sankashu
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