水上を定めてければ君が代に
二たび澄める堀河の水
二たび澄める堀河の水
- Roma-ji
-
Minakami o sadametekereba kimi ga yo ni futatabi sumeru Horikawa no mizu
- English Translation
-
Since its source above
has been firmly set in place,
under my lord's reign
once again it flows so clear —
the water of the Horikawa
- Meaning
- Because its source has been set aright, the water of the Horikawa flows clear once more under my lord's reign.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Miscellaneous Poems II 385
Because the source has been firmly set, the poet says, the water of the Horikawa has become clear once more under his lord's reign, and he praises that reign. The clearing of the water is overlaid with the good order of the world, carrying a spirit of celebration.
Following the two rice poems, it praises the reign through clear water.
The first line, "minakami o," refers to the river's source.
The second line, "sadametekereba," is a conditional of certainty with the perfective "tsu" and the perfective of the past "keri": since it was set.
The third line, "kimi ga yo ni," means in my lord's reign.
The fourth line, "futatabi sumeru," uses the attributive continuative "ri": clear once again.
The final line, "Horikawa no mizu," ends with a noun, presenting the water of the Horikawa in the capital.
- Author
- Sone no Yoshitada
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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