Gosho 種種御振舞御書 The Acts of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra

其(そ)の夜は十三日・

Now it was the night of the thirteenth.

It was the night of 13th.

兵士(つわもの)ども数十人・坊(ぼう)の辺(あた)り並びに大庭にな(並)みゐ(居)て候いき、

There were scores of warriors stationed around my lodging and in the main garden.

There were scores of warriors stationed around my lodging and in the large garden.

九月十三日の夜なれば月・大(おおい)に・は(晴)れてありしに、

Because it was the middle of the ninth month, the moon was very round and full.

Because it was the middle of September, the moon was very brightly.

夜中に大庭に立ち出(い)でて月に向ひ奉りて・自我偈(じがげ)少少よみ奉り、諸宗の勝劣(しょうれつ)・法華経の文あらあら申して、

I went out into the garden and there, turning toward the moon, recited the verse portion of the “Life Span” chapter. Then I spoke briefly about the faults of the various schools, citing passages from the Lotus Sutra.

I went out into the large garden and chanted there the verse of the “Life span” chapter toward the moon. Then, I spoke about the faults of the various sects and chanted the sentence of the Lotus Sutra roughly.

抑(そもそも)今の月天(がってん)は法華経の御座に列(つらな)りまします名月天子ぞかし、

I said: “You, the god of the moon, are Rare Moon, the son of a god, who participated in the ceremony of the Lotus Sutra.

I said: “To begin with, you, the moon of the heavens, are the emperor of the beautiful moon, and you participated in the ceremony of the Lotus Sutra.

宝塔品(ほうとうぼん)にして仏(ぶつ)勅(ちょく)をうけ給い嘱(ぞく)累(るい)品(ぼん)にして仏に頂(いただき)をな(摩)でられまいらせ「世尊の勅(みことのり)の如(ごと)く当(まさ)に具(つぶさ)に奉(ぶ)行(ぎょう)すべし」と誓状(せいじょう)をたてし天ぞかし、

When the Buddha expounded the ‘Treasure Tower’ chapter, you received his order, and in the ‘Entrustment’ chapter, when the Buddha patted your head with his hand, in your vow you said, ‘We will respectfully carry out all these things just as the World-Honored One has commanded.’ You are that very god.

When the Buddha expounded the ‘Treasure Tower' chapter, you of heavens received his order, and in the ‘Entrustment' chapter, when the Buddha fondled your head with his hand, you vowed, ‘We will in detail respectfully handle these things Buddha has commanded'.

仏前の誓ちかいは日蓮なくば虚むなしくてこそをはすべけれ、

Would you have an opportunity to fulfill the vow you made in the Buddha’s presence if it were not for me?

You did not have an opportunity to fulfill the vow you made to Buddha if it were not for me.

今かかる事出来しゅったいせばいそぎ悦びをなして法華経の行者にも・かはり、仏ぶつ勅ちょくをも・はたして誓言のしる験しをばと遂げさせ給うべし、

Now that you see me in this situation, you should rush forward joyfully to receive the sufferings of the votary of the Lotus Sutra in his stead, thereby carrying out the Buddha’s command and also fulfilling your vow.

Now that you see me in this situation, you should hurry joyfully to receive the sufferings in place of the votary of the Lotus Sutra and carry out the Buddha's command and fulfill a result of your vow.

いかに今しるしのなきは不思議に候ものかな、

It is strange indeed that you have not yet done anything.

It is strange that you yet do not show anything of sign now.

何いかなる事も国になくしては鎌倉へもかへらんとも思はず、

If nothing is done to set this country to rights, I will never return to Kamakura.

If nothing happens to this country, I will never return to Kamakura.

しるしこそなくとも・うれ嬉しがをにて澄すみ渡らせ給うはいかに、

Even if you do not intend to do anything for me, how can you go on shining with such a complacent face?

Even if you do not intend to show signs for me, why are you going on shining with such a complacent face?

つづく　Continued

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