物部(もののふ)の 八十(やそ)少女(をとめ)らが 汲(く)みまがふ 寺井の上の 堅(かた)香子(かご)の花
大伴家持(おおとものやかもち)
As though many young girls,
Were jumbly drawing pure water,
From the well in the precincts.
Blossoming likewise are,
Dogtooth violets over there.
by Otomo no Yakamochi
(Vol. 19 – 4143)
Translated by Kota Nakako
(現代語訳)
沢山の少女たちが水を汲んでいるような姿で寺井の上に咲いている堅香子(かたかご)の花なのです。
(注)
寺井：寺の境内にある清水や井戸
Terai: pure water in the precincts of a shrine/temple
もののふの：八十に掛かる枕詞(まくらことば)。「もののふ」は朝廷に仕える文武の官を意味する。
mononofu: pillow word hung on ‘Yaso’ or numerous. ‘mononofu’ means civil and military officials who serve imperial court
八十：数の多いこと; たくさん
yaso: many, numerous
汲みまがふ：多くの人が入り乱れて水をくみ合う
kumigamafu: to draw water with many people in a jumble
水を汲むのは女性の仕事で、大勢の娘子たちが入り乱れて賑やかに水を汲んでいる情景
In those days, drawing water was women’s job. It depicts the scene many girls were jumbling together to do it.
堅香子：カタクリの古名。カタクリはユリ科の多年草で、早春に薄紫色の可憐な花を咲かせる。
katakago: old name of ‘katakuri’, dogtooth violet.
Translated by Kota Nakako
2025/10/07
