Gosho 一昨日御書 七 Letter about the Ｄay Before Yesterday

抑(そもそも)貴辺は当時天下の棟梁(とうりょう)なり、

At present, you, sir, are the veritable pillar and crossbeam of the realm.

At present, you are like the pillar and crossbeam of the nation.

何ぞ国中の良材を損ぜんや。

How, then, can you fail to make use of true talent when it exists in the nation?

Why are you going to lose the talented people of a whole country?

早く賢慮(けんりょ)を回(めぐ)らして須(すべから)く異敵を退くべし、

You must as soon as possible put into motion wise strategies to fend off these foreign enemies.

Please give us your reconsideration above all, and it will be vital to repel a foreign enemy.

世を安(やすん)じ国を安ずるを忠と為し孝と為す。

You must insure the safety of the nation, for in doing so you will be fulfilling your obligations of loyalty and those of filial piety.

It is called loyalty that one makes the world peaceful and safe, and it is filial duty to make a nation peaceful and safe.

是(こ)れ偏(ひとえ)に身の為(ため)に之を述べず、君の為、仏の為、神の為、一切衆生の為に言上(げんじょう)せしむる所なり、

I do not offer these words simply for my own sake, but for the sake of the ruler, for the sake of the Buddhas, for the sake of the gods, and for the sake of allliving beings.

I do not state this for my own sake. I state this for the sake of you, for the sake of Buddha, for the sake of gods and for the sake of all human beings.

恐恐(きょうきょう)謹言(きんげん)。

With my deep respect,

Very truly yours.

文永八年九月十二日　

The twelfth day of the ninth month in the eighth year of Bun’ei [1271].

The twelfth day of September in the eighth year of Bun'ei [1271].　　　　　　　　　　　

日　 蓮 　花 押 　　Nichiren.

謹上(きんじょう) 平左衛門殿

Respectfully presented to Hei no Saemon

Respectfully presented to Lord Heino Saemonnojo

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