Gosho 忘持経事 Forgetting the Sutra.

　忘持経事

On Forgetting the Copy of the Sutra

Forgetting the Sutra

建治二年　五十五歳御作

March 20^th,1276. Fifty-five years old.

中山法華経寺所蔵(重要文化財). Possession of Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple. (important cultural property).

二(に)母(ぼ)国(くに)に無し、今より後誰(だれ)をか拝(はい)す可(べ)き、

You have no other mother in this land. From now on, whom will you wait on?

There are not two mothers in this country. From now on, whom will you worship?

離別忍(しの)び難(がた)きの間、舎利(しゃり)を頚(くび)に懸(か)け足に任(まか)せて大道に出で、下(げ)州(しゅう)より甲州(こうしゅう)に至る其(そ)の中間(ちゅうげん)往復千里に及ぶ。

Because of the great grief you felt at this separation, you placed the ashes of the deceased in a container hung from your neck and, trusting to your feet, set out upon the highroad, journeying all the way from Shimōsa Province to this province of Kai, a distance of a thousand ri here and back.

Because of the grief you felt at this parting, you entered the ashes of the deceased in a container hung from your neck, and trusting to your feet, you went to the wide road, journeying all the way from Shimousa Province to this Province of Kai. The distance is a thousand ri round trip.

国国皆(みな)飢饉(ききん)し山野に盗賊(とうぞく)充満し宿(しゅく)宿(しゅく)粮米(ろうまい)乏(ぼう)少(しょう)なり。

All the lands you passed through were beset by famine, and the mountains and plains were full of bandits.

All the countries you passed through were beset by famine, and the mountains and plains were full of bandits.

我身羸弱(えいじゃく)・所従亡(な)きが若(ごと)く牛馬(ごめ)合(あい)期(ご)せず

Where you put up each night, there was little food to be had; you were weak in body, all but without attendants, and never knew where you could obtain fresh horses or oxen.

Where you put up each night, there was little food. You were frail, almost without servants, and never knew where you could obtain fresh horses or oxen.

つづく Continued

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