時により過ぐれば民の嘆きなり
八大竜王雨やめたまへ
八大竜王雨やめたまへ
- Roma-ji
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Toki ni yori sugureba tami no nageki nari Hachidai Ryūō ame yame tamae
- English Translation
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There are times when rain,
if it falls past all measure,
brings the people grief;
Eight Great Dragon Kings, I pray,
let the rain now cease to fall.
- Meaning
- At times, if the rain goes beyond measure, it brings grief to the people. O Eight Great Dragon Kings, I beg you, let the rain stop.
- Commentary
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Miscellaneous Poems 716
Headnote: "In the seventh month of Kenryaku 1, the floodwaters filled the sky; thinking of the grief of the common people, I faced the principal image alone and offered a humble prayer"
In the seventh month of Kenryaku 1 (1211), when floods seemed to fill the sky, the poet, thinking of the people's grief, faced the principal image alone and prayed. Even blessed rain, if it goes beyond measure, becomes the people's grief, he says, and calls directly on the Eight Great Dragon Kings who govern rain to make it stop. It is famous as a forceful poem pouring out Sanetomo's true feeling as a ruler who cared for his people. Kamo no Mabuchi marked it with a sign of praise.
The Ruijū text spells part of the headnote differently. The base text ends the miscellaneous section with this poem, followed by a colophon.
Line 1 means "at times." Where the opening poem, 562, began the section with a single traveller's heart, this closing poem ends with a prayer for the people's grief, the arrangement moving from one person's heart to the prayer of a ruler.
Line 2 means "if it exceeds, the people's."
Line 3 means "it is grief," with a break after the line; taking up the poems of compassion before it, it widens its care to the people's grief.
Line 4 names the Eight Great Dragon Kings, guardians of the Dharma said to govern rain, eight syllables.
Line 5 means "stop the rain, I pray," an imperative of fervent prayer.
- Author
- Minamoto no Sanetomo
- Source
- Kinkaishu
- Prev Poem
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Mono iwanu yomo no kedamono sura dani mo aware naru kana ya oya no ko o omou