Dhyana Grhapati

The Sorrow of Separation by Qu Yuan(340-278BC)

I. (1) The poet describes his family background, birthday, name, and his self-cultivation of morals and abilities in order to assist the Emperor of the Chu state to carry out potitical reform and make his country rich and strong

帝高阳之苗裔兮，
朕皇考曰伯庸。
摄提真于孟陬兮，
惟庚寅吾以降。
皇览揆余初度兮，
肇锡余以嘉名：
名余曰正则兮，
字余曰灵均。
纷吾既有此内美兮，
又重之以修能。
扈江离与辟芷兮，
纫秋兰以为佩。
汨余若将不及兮，
恐年岁之不吾与。
朝搴阰之木兰兮，
夕揽洲之宿莽。
日月忽其不淹兮，
春与秋其代序。
惟草木之零落兮，
恐美人之迟暮。
不抚壮而弃秽兮，
何不改乎此度？
乘骐骥以驰骋兮，
来吾道乎先路！

I am the descendant of the ancient emperor Gao-yang.
My deceased father is called Baiyong .I was born in January,
340B.C, having carefully considered my birthday.
my father gave me a fine name called Zhengze and a literary
name of Linjun. Nature has endowed me many good qualities.
I have also diligently cultivated my moral character.
I draped fragrant plants such as chuan-xiong and Dahurian
angelica over my shoulder, I made ropes with autumn orchids
to hang on my sides. Time fleets away like an arrow.
I fear it will not wait for me. In the morning I plucked lily
magnonia on the hill slope, and in the evening I gathered
perennial rank grass on a islet in the river. Days passed

away quickly and seasons rotated in succession. I worry about
the plants withering away and fear I am growing old.
Why not abolish the present corrupt regime while I am still strong?
Why not alter this political system?
Let us ride fine steeds and gallop away.
Come on, I'll lead the way!

Ⅰ. (2) The poet explains his political point of view and position, and the painful sentiments when his view-point was not accepted by the Emperor of Chu State.
昔三后之纯粹兮， In ancient times the three sagacious emperors Yu,
固众芳之所在。 Tang and Wengwang were pure and fair, thus worthy and
杂申椒与菌桂兮， upright people all flocked to them. They employed personnel
岂维纫夫蕙茝？ who were not only virtuous but also outspoken,
彼尧舜之耿介兮， like fragrant prickly ash and cinnamon.
既遵道而得路。 Ancient sages like Yao and Shun were just and honorable.
何桀纣之猖披兮， They followed a right path, so they reached the desired end.
夫唯捷径以窘步。 While tyrants Jie and Zhou were arrogant and wicked.
惟夫党人之偷乐兮， They wanted to follow short cuts, but arrived at blind alleys.
路幽昧以险隘。 They formed cligues to gain private ends.
岂余身之惮殃兮， Hence their future was dark and risky. I am not afraid of
恐皇舆之败绩。 incurring disasters. I only worry about my country being
忽奔走以先后兮， overthrown. I have hurried back and forth, always busying
及前王之踵武。 myself and hoping that the emperor of Chu would catch
荃不察余之中情兮， up with those ancient emperors. You emperor did not understand
反信谗而暴怒。 my inner feelings. Instead,. you listened to slanders and got
余固知謇謇之为患兮, angry with me. I knew that honest advice would offend superiors,
忍而不能舍也。 but I could not help doing so.I call heaven to bear witness for me.

 指九天以为正兮， I have done everything for you, my emperor.
夫为灵修之故也！ Once we made an agreement, but later you changed your mind
初既与余成言兮， and had other plans. It is not very hard for me to leave you.
后悔遁而有他。 I only feel painful that you are so capricious!
余既不难夫离别兮，
伤灵修之数化。
 
 I. (3) The poet describes his efforts to train personnel for his state. But under the circumstance when most court officials were insatiably greedy and exclusive, talents like flowers withered. However, he still actively practised self-cultivation and followed the teachings of the ancient sage Pengxian.

余既滋兰之九畹兮， I have planted nine hectares of spring orchids and 100mu
又树蕙之百亩。 (1/16ha.) of autumn orchids. I have also grown many beds of peory,
畦留夷与揭车兮， wild ginger and dahurian angelica.I hope they grow vigorously,
杂杜衡与芳芷。 so that I can harvest them when they are ripe.
冀枝叶之峻茂兮， It matters not much if they wither and die.
愿竣时乎吾将刈。 What greieves me is that they deteriorate and become rotten.
虽萎绝其亦何伤兮， They all make desperate effort to seek fortune.
哀众芳之芜秽。 They are obsessed with the desire for gain, and insatiably avaricious.

众皆竞进以贪婪兮， They are suspicious of others, but indulgent to themselves,
凭不厌乎求索。 They intrigue against each other and are jealous of each other.
羌内恕己以量人兮， They curry favor with their superiors, scramble for power and profit.
各兴心而嫉妒。 I am not after these petty things. I feel old age is gradually
忽驰骛以追逐兮， approaching. I fear I could not establish a good reputation. In the
非余心之所急。 morning I drank dew drops on the lily magnonia, and in the evening
老冉冉其将至兮， I ate fallen flowers of the autumn chrysanthemums. Provided that
恐修名之不立。 I remain faithful and true, what does it matter I become haggard!
朝饮木兰之坠露兮， I used tree roots to tie orchids and stringed pistils of climbing fig
夕餐秋菊之落英。 together. I used cinamon branches to combine orchids,
苟余情其信姱以练要兮，and made long and slender cords with a climbing plant.
长顑颔亦何伤。 I learn from ancient sages, while vulgar people of the world cannot
揽木根以结茝兮， do. Although I can hardly get along with present-day people,
贯薜荔之落蕊。 I'll follow the teachings of the deceased sage Penxian.
矫菌桂以纫蕙兮，
索胡绳之纚纚。
謇吾法夫前修兮，
非世俗之所服。
虽不周于今之人兮，
愿依彭咸之遗则！

众女嫉余之娥眉兮， They violated rules and distorted policies. They defied moral
谣诼谓余以善淫。 standards and sticked to distortions. Their principle was to curry
固时俗之工巧兮， favor with their superiors. I feel deppressed, worried and
偭规矩而改错。 disappointed. Now I am lonely and poor. I would rather
背绳墨以追曲兮， die and depart. I hate to flatter people.
竞周容以为度。 Eagles would not live with sparrows.
忳郁邑余侘傺兮， This is the way since ancient times.
吾独穷困乎此时也。 Squares and rounds cannot live in peace.
宁淹死以流亡兮， I would rather make concessions and control my emotions.
余不忍为此态也！ I would endure their blame and abuse.
鸷鸟之不群兮， I only wish I could keep myself clean and die an honest death
自前世而固然。 This kind of act was praised by ancient sages.
何方圆之能周兮，
夫孰异道而相安！
屈心而抑志兮，
忍尤而攘诟。
伏清白以死直兮，
固前圣之所厚！