Ōkimi no choku o kashikomi chichiwaku ni kokoro wa waku tomo hito ni iwame ya mo

大君の勅を畏みちちわくに
心は分くとも人に言はめやも

Roma-ji: Ōkimi no choku o kashikomi chichiwaku ni kokoro wa waku tomo hito ni iwame ya mo
English Translation: The words of my lord
I receive with awe and dread;
though into a thousand
pieces my heart may be torn,
would I ever tell a soul?
Meaning: Receiving my sovereign's command with awe, though my heart be torn a thousand ways, would I ever speak of it to anyone?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 676

Headnote: "A poem on receiving a letter from the Retired Emperor"
Composed on receiving a letter from the Retired Emperor Go-Toba, the poem says that the poet receives his words with reverence and, though his heart be torn a thousand ways, would never reveal it to anyone, expressing loyalty and discretion toward the Retired Emperor. With the next two poems it is famous as a sign of Sanetomo's loyalty to the court.
The Ruijū text places this and the next two poems in its section of personal grievances. The Jōkyō text reads line 3 as chichiwaku ni, noting haha beside waku, and the text transmitted by Teika also has chichiwaku ni. The source as displayed may also be read "father and mother," but here it follows the Jōkyō text and the text transmitted by Teika.

Line 1 means "of my sovereign," here Go-Toba; it opens a series of three on loyalty to the sovereign.
Line 2 means "receiving the command in awe," mi expressing cause.
Line 3 means "divided a thousand ways."
Line 4 means "though my heart be divided," repeating waku from line 3.
Line 5 means "would I tell anyone?" ya mo rhetorical.
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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