Japanese
Rōmaji
仮初の 従 かなぐり
別るは 戦乱の 左右
転がり込みし 天を 統べるは
如何なる 偉器 なりや
耀ふ 闇と 闇がる 光を
草薙の 太刀で 慥かみて
其の手の 附子を 喰らえども
我が眼に 燃ゆる 紫電が 閃く
涅染の 爪牙 舐り
諮るは 狸の 相
下らぬ 冗話 除き 術よく
汝の 肚裡 見せよ
耀ふ 闇と 闇がる 光を
草薙の 太刀で 慥かみて
裁きの 奉仕は 厭わねど
我が眼に 燃ゆる 紫電が 閃く
咲き乱れた 花の熱に 眩れる
遠き 聲が 時勢を 容れよと 諭す
天下を 請うなら 我を 逐うてみよ
耀ふ 闇と 闇がる 光を
草薙の 太刀で 慥かみて
裁きの 奉仕は 厭わねど
交ふ 刃に 答よ 在れ
陰ろふ 月を 包みゆく 青天よ
未だ 見ぬ 和世を 齎して
能わぬ 武士は 去りゆくも
最後に 叫ぶ 無天の 誉れを
English Translation
Tearing off my temporary vassalage
I part from the closing of the feast (1)
What kind of luminary will rule
The heavens that fall into his lap?
The shimmery dark and the darkling light
Ascertain them with a grass-mowing sword (2)
Should I swallow the aconite of your hand
Yet in my eye gleams a blazing sword-flash (3)
Licking the black-dyed claws and fangs
You consult with the aspect of a sly dog
Cut the trivial cackle deftly
And reveal thy inmost heart
The shimmery dark and the darkling light
Ascertain them with a grass-mowing sword
While I am willing to be a servant of justice
Yet in my eye gleams a blazing sword-flash
Dizzied by the stifling perfume of the profuse blossoms
A distant voice makes me realize to pay heed to the times
If you wish for the helm of state, prove you can expel me
The shimmery dark and the darkling light
Ascertain them with a grass-mowing sword
While I am willing to be a servant of justice
The answer must be found in crossed blades
O blue enveloping the obscured moon (4)
Bring about an unprecedented peace
Though an unapt samurai may retire
In the end he cries the honor of unreign (5)