Gosho 兵衛志殿御返事 一 The Three Obstacles and Four Devils

兵衛志殿御返事（ひょうえのさかんどのごへんじ）

The Three Obstacles and Four Devils

Reply to Hyō’e-sakan

建治三年十一月二十日　五十六歳御作

November 20, 1277. Fifty-six years old.

かたがたのもの(物)ふ(夫)二人をもつて、をくりたびて候。

The two men you sent have arrived here, bringing your various offerings.

The two men you sent have arrived here, they sent various offerings and I received it.

その心ざし弁殿の御ふみに申すげに候。

I also heard that the priest Ben has written about your sincerity in his letter.

I also read the letter about your sincerity which the priest Ben wrote.

さてはなによりも御(おん)ために第一の大事を申し候なり、

In this letter I want to advise you about what is most important for you.

In this letter I want to advise you about what is most important for you.

正法(しょうほう)・像法(ぞうほう)の時は世もいまだを(衰)とろへず聖人・賢人も・つづき生れ候き天も人をま(守)ほり給いき、

In the Former and Middle Days of the Law, the world did not fall into decline because sages and worthies appeared frequently, and the heavenly gods protected the people.

In the beginning days and Middle days of Buddha's Law, the world did not fall into decline because saints and sages appeared frequently, and the heavens protected the people.

末法になり候へば人のとん(貪)よく(欲)やうやくすぎ候て主と臣と親と子と兄と弟と諍論(じょうろん)ひまなし。まして他人は申すに及ばず、

In the Latter Day of the Law, however, people have become so greedy that strife rages incessantly between sovereign and subject, parent and child, elder and younger brother, and all the more so among people who are unrelated.

In the latter day of the Law, however, people have become so greedy and strife occurs incessantly between ruler and vassal, parent and child, elder and younger brother, and all the more so among people who are unrelated.

これに・よりて天も・その国をす(捨)つれば三災七難乃至(ないし)一二三四五六七の日い(出)でて草木か(枯)れうせ小大河もつ(尽)き大地はすみ(炭)のごとく・をこり大海はあぶ(油)らのごとくになり・け(結)つく(句)は無間(むけん)地獄より炎(ほのお)いでて上(かみ)梵天(ぼんてん)まで火炎・充満すべし、

When such conflict occurs, the gods abandon the country, and then the three calamities and seven disasters begin, until one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven suns appear in the sky. Plants and trees wither and die, large and small rivers dry up, the earth smolders like charcoal, and the sea becomes like boiling oil. Eventually flames fill the atmosphere, arising from the hell of incessant suffering and reaching the Brahmā heaven.

When such conflict occurs, the gods of heaven abandon that country, and then the three calamities and seven disasters begin, one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven suns appear in the sky. Plants and trees wither and die, large and small rivers dry up, the earth smolders like charcoal, and the sea becomes like boiling oil. Eventually flames arise from the hell of incessant suffering, reaching the heavens of Brahma, filling the atmosphere.

これ(是)て(体)いの事い(出)でんとて・やうやく世間はを(衰)とへ候なり。

Such is the devastation that will occur when the world reaches its final dissolution.

When such a thing happens, the world runs into ruin finally.

つづく　Continued

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