taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Archaic literary word describing a steep, rugged, or precipitous landscape. Used as a taru-adjective or adverb with と.
古典では「嵯峨たる山道」のように使われる。
In classical texts it is used like 'a precipitous mountain path'.
Modern common word for 'steep' or 'rugged'; 嵯峨 is its archaic literary counterpart.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 嵯峨 are used for their meaning 'steep' or 'rugged' in classical Chinese and Japanese.