classic waka stream

行く末のためにと説かぬ法ならば
何か我が身に頼みあらまし
Roma-ji

Yukusue no tame ni to tokanu nori naraba nani ka waga mi ni tanomi aramashi

English Translation
If it were a Law
not preached for the sake of those
in the days to come,
what would there be for one like me
to place my trust in?
Meaning
Had the Law not been preached for the sake of those in ages to come, what would I have to rely upon?
Commentary
Miscellaneous Poems 892

Headnote: "The chapter on the Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgata"
The topic is the chapter on the Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgata, which tells how the Buddha displayed great powers and entrusted the bodhisattvas with spreading and keeping this sutra in the ages after his passing. Had the Lotus Sutra not been preached for those in ages to come, what could one like me, living in the latter days, rely on? the poet asks, grateful that the teaching has been left even for people of his age.

First line, “yukusue no”: of the future, the ages to come.
Second line, “tame ni to tokanu”: not preached for their sake.
Third line, “nori naraba”: if it were such a Law.
Fourth line, “nani ka waga mi ni”: ka is a rhetorical binding particle answered by mashi.
Fifth line, “tanomi aramashi”: mashi is counterfactual; what would I have to rely on?
Author
Saigyō
Source
Sankashu
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