Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 715 sections

0
an lugal diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4 ⌈nir-ĝal2⌉
An, king of the gods, majestic one: O king, storm of majestic splendour, peerless Ninurta, possessing superior strength; who pillages the mountains all alone; deluge, indefatigable serpent hurling yourself at the rebel land, hero striding formidably into battle; lord whose powerful arm is fit to bear the mace, reaping like barley the necks of the insubordinate; Ninurta, king, son in whose strength his father rejoices; hero whose awesomeness covers the mountains like a south storm; Ninurta, who makes the good tiara, the rainbow (?), flash like lightning; grandly begotten by him who wears the princely beard; dragon who turns on himself, strength of a lion snarling at a snake, roaring hurricane; Ninurta, king, whom Enlil has exalted above himself; hero, great battle-net flung over the foe; Ninurta, with the awesomeness of your shadow extending over the Land; releasing fury on the rebel lands, overwhelming their assemblies! Ninurta, king, son who has forced homage to his father far and wide!
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lugal ud me-lem4-bi nir-ĝal2
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{d}nin-urta saĝ-kal usu maḫ tuku kur a-ga-na laḫ4
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a-ma-ru mir-DU nu-kuš2-u3 ki-bal ĝa2-ĝa2
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ur-saĝ me3-še3 ti-na gub-bu
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en šu silig-ga {ĝiš}mi-tum-še3 ĝal2
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gu2 nu-še-ga še-gin7 gur10 su-ub-bu
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{d}nin-urta lugal dumu a-a-ni kalag-ga-ni-še3 ḫul2-la
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ur-saĝ ni2 ulu3-gin7 kur-ra dul-lu
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{d}nin-urta aga zid {d}ŠE.TIR-an-na igi nim ĝir2 du7-du7
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sun4 nun-e a za-gin3 ru-a ušum ni2-ba gur-gur
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zag piriĝ-e muš-e-eš eme ed2-de3 gu3-an-ne2-si ka si-il-le
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{d}nin-urta lugal {d}en-lil2-le ni2-te-na dirig-ga
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ur-saĝ {sa}šu2-uš-gal lu2-erim2-ra šu2-a
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{d}nin-urta ni2 ĝissu-zu kalam-ma la2-a
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sumur ki-bal-še3 tum3 unken-bi dul-dul
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{d}nin-urta lugal dumu a-a-ni-ir su3-ud-bi-še3 giri17 šu ĝal2
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{ĝiš}gu-za barag maḫ-e si-a-ni ni2 gal gur3-ru-ni
Inspiring great numinous power, he had taken his place on the throne, the august dais, and was sitting gladly at his ease at the festival celebrated in his honour, rivalling An and Enlil in drinking his fill, while Bau was pleading petitions in a prayer for the king, and he, Ninurta, Enlil's son, was handing down decisions. At that moment the lord's battle-mace looked towards the mountains, the Šar-ur cried out aloud to its master:
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ezen ĝar-ra-ni ḫul2-la-na daĝal-bi tuš-a-ni
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an {d}en-lil2-da zag ša4-a-ni kurun dug3-ge-da-ni
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{d}ba-u2 a-ra-zu lugal-la-ka u3-gul ĝa2-ĝa2-da-ni
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{d}nin-urta dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 nam tar-re-da-ni
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ud-bi-a en-na {ĝiš}tukul-a-ni kur-ra igi mi-ni-ĝal2
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šar2-ur3-e an-ta lugal-bi-ir gu3 mu-na-de2-e
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en ĝišgal an-na gu2-en barag-ge si
Lord of lofty station, foremost one, who presides over all lords from the throne dais, Ninurta, whose orders are unalterable, whose allotted fates are faithfully executed; my master! Heaven copulated with the verdant Earth, Ninurta: she has born him a warrior who knows no fear -- the Asag, a child who sucked the power of milk without ever staying with a wet-nurse, a foster-child, O my master -- knowing no father, a murderer from the mountains, a youth who has come forth from ……, whose face knows no shame; impudent of eye, an arrogant male, Ninurta Ninĝirsu , rejoicing in his stature. My hero, you who are like a bull, I will take my stand beside you. My master, who turns sympathetically towards his own city, who is effective in carrying out his mother's wishes: it has sired offspring in the mountains, and spread its seeds far and wide. The plants have unanimously named it king over them; like a great wild bull, it tosses its horns amongst them. The šu, the saĝkal, the esi (diorite), the usium, the kagena (haematite), and the heroic nu stones, its warriors, constantly come raiding the cities. For them a shark's tooth has grown up in the mountains; it has stripped the trees. Before its might the gods of those cities bow towards it. My master, this same creature has erected a throne dais: it is not lying idle. Ninurta, lord, it actually decides the Land's lawsuits, just as you do. Who can compass the Asag's dread glory? Who can counteract the severity of its frown? People are terrified, fear makes the flesh creep; their eyes are fixed upon it. My master, the mountains have taken their offerings to it.
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{d}nin-urta dug4-ga-zu nu-kur2-ru nam tar-ra-zu šu zid-de3-eš ĝar
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lugal-ĝu10 an-e ki sig7-ga ĝiš3 im-ma-dug4
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{d}nin-urta ur-saĝ ni2 nu-zu a2-sag3 mu-un-ši-ib-tu-ud
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dumu um-me ga nu-tuš-a ne3 ga gu7-a
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lugal-ĝu10 buluĝ3 a-a nu-zu gab2-gaz kur-ra-ka
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šul IR-ta e3-a igi teš2 nu-ĝal2-la
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{d}nin-urta {d}nin-ĝir2-su nitaḫ ni2 il2-il2-i alan-da ḫul2-la
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ur-saĝ-ĝu10 gud-dam zag-ĝu10 ga-bi2-ib2-us2-e
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lugal-ĝu10 lu2 iri-ni-še3 gur-ra ama-ni-še3 ak-a
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kur-ra šag4 i-ni-bal numun-bi ba-tal2-tal2
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teš2-ba mu bi2-ib2-sa4 <{na4}>u2 lugal-bi-še3
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murub4-ba am gal-gin7 a2 ba-ni-ib-il2-il2-i
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{na4}šu-u {na4}saĝ-kal {na4}esi {na4}u2-si-um {na4}ka-gen6-na
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ur-saĝ {na4}nu11 gar3-ra-du-um-bi iri{ki} im-ma-ab-laḫ4
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kur-ra zu2 kušu2-a mu-ne-mu2 ĝiš mi-ni-ib-ur3-ur3
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a2-ba iri{ki}-ba diĝir-be2-ne ki-bi-še3 ba-an-gam-e-eš
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lugal-ĝu10 ur5-re barag ba-ri a2 tu-lu nu-gi4-e
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{d}nin-urta en za-gin7 kalam-ma di-bi [ši-in-ga]-kud-de3
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a2-sag3-a me-lem4-ba a-ba šu mi-ni-ib-tu-tu
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saĝ-ki-ba gal-gal a-ba ib2-ta-ĝa2-ĝa2
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su2 im-sag3 ni2 su-e bi2-ib-us2
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igi-bi ki-bi-še3 ba-ni-ib-ĝar
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lugal-ĝu10 kur-re nidba-bi ki-bi-še3 ba-ab-su
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ur-saĝ a-a-zu-še3 en3 mu-e-ši-tar
Hero! They have appealed to you, because of your father; son of Enlil, lord, because of your superior strength they are looking to you here; since you are strong, my master, they are calling for your help, saying, Ninurta, that not a single warrior counts except for you! They wanted to advise you about ……. Hero, there have been consultations with a view to taking away your kingship. Ninurta, it is confident that it can lay hands on the powers received by you in the abzu. Its face is deformed, its location is continually changing; day by day, the Asag adds territories to its domain.
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dumu {d}en-lil2-la2 en a2 maḫ-zu-uš ki mu-e-ši-ib2-kiĝ2
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lugal-ĝu10 kalag-ga-zu-še3 ad mu-e-ši-ib-gi4
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{d}nin-urta zag-zu ur-saĝ 1 nu-tuš-a ba-ab-dug4
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UR.GA-ru-še3 a2 mu-e-ši-ib-aĝ2
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ur-saĝ nam-lugal-zu tum3-de3 tar-tar-ra mu-un-ĝal2
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{d}nin-urta me abzu-zu šu si sa2-bi ĝiškim i-im-til3
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igi im-sag3-sag3 ki-tuš im-kur2-re
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a2-sag3-e ud šu2-uš ki-sur-ra a2-ba mi-ni-ib-ku4-ku4
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{ĝiš}rab3 diĝir-re-e-ne na-dab5-en
But you will force it into the shackles of the gods. You, Antelope of Heaven, must trample the mountains beneath your hooves, Ninurta, lord, son of Enlil. Who has so far been able to resist its assault? The besetting Asag is beyond all control, its weight is too heavy. Rumours of its armies constantly arrive, before ever its soldiers are seen. This thing's strength is massive, no weapon has been able to overturn it. Ninurta, neither the axe nor the all-powerful spear can penetrate its flesh, no warrior like it has ever been created against you. Lord, you who reach out towards the august divine powers, splendour, jewel of the gods, you bull with the features of a wild bull, with a prominent backbone, …… this fellow is clever! My Ninurta, whose form Enki contemplates with favour, my Uta-ulu, lord, son of Enlil, what is to be done?
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taraḫ an-na kur umbin ba-e-zukum
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{d}nin-urta en dumu {d}en-lil2-la2 a-na zig3-bi mu-un-gi4
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a2-sag3 zig3-ga-bi šu la-ba-ĝal2 dugud-da-bi im-gu-ul
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ugnim-bi-ta KA ib2-ta-de6 erin2-bi igi la-ba-teĝ3-ĝe26
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ur5-ra kalag-ga-bi saĝ im-gi4 {ĝiš}tukul-e ĝiš la-ba-ab-kiĝ2
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{d}nin-urta ŠEN.ŠITA2 šukur maḫ-e su-bi nu-dar-e
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ur-saĝ na-me-gin7 na-ra-dim2
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en me maḫ-e a2-kuš3 sud-sud
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še-er-zid me-te diĝir-re-e-ne
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gud muš3-ba am gal murgu tuku lal3 gal-zu ur5-ra
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{d}nin-urta alan-za {d}en-ki-ke4 igi bar-bar-ra-ĝu10
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{d}u4-ta-u18-lu en dumu {d}en-lil2-la2 a-na ?-ĝu10
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en-e u3-u8 bi2-in-dug4 an ba-sag3 ki ĝiri3-ni-še3 ba-tuš
The lord cried Alas! so that Heaven trembled, and Earth huddled at his feet and was terrified (?) at his strength. Enlil became confused and went out of the E-kur. The mountains were devastated. That day the earth became dark, the Anuna trembled. The hero beat his thighs with his fists. The gods dispersed; the Anuna disappeared over the horizon like sheep. The lord arose, touching the sky; Ninurta went to battle, with one step (?) he covered a league, he was an alarming storm, and rode on the eight winds towards the rebel lands. His arms grasped the lance. The mace snarled at the mountains, the club began to devour all the enemy. He fitted the evil wind and the sirocco on a pole (?), he placed the quiver on its hook (?). An enormous hurricane, irresistible, went before the hero, stirred up the dust, caused the dust to settle, levelled high and low, filled the holes. It caused a rain of coals and flaming fires; the fire consumed men. It overturned tall trees by their trunks, reducing the forests to heaps, Earth put her hands on her heart and cried harrowingly; the Tigris was muddied, disturbed, cloudy, stirred up. He hurried to battle on the boat Ma-kar-nunta-ea; the people there did not know where to turn, they bumped into (?) the walls. The birds there tried to lift their heads to fly away, but their wings trailed on the ground. The storm flooded out the fish there in the subterranean waters, their mouths snapped at the air. It reduced the animals of the open country to firewood, roasting them like locusts. It was a deluge rising and disastrously ruining the mountains.
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a2-ba i-ni-in-gi4 {d}en-lil2 ba-suḫ3 e2-kur-ra ba-ta-?
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kur ba-gul ki ud-ba <ba>-ku10-ku10 {d}a-nun-na ba-tar-ra-aš
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ur-saĝ-e ḫaš2 tibir-ra bi2-in-ra diĝir ba-bir-bir-re-eš
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{d}a-nun-na udu-gin7 ki-šar2-ra ba-e-e11-ne-re7re-eš
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en zig3-ga-ni an-ne2 im-us2
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{d}nin-urta me3-še3 du-ni gaba danna bi2-in-sa2
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ud-dam i3-du7-du7 ki-bal-še3 tum9 8 mu-un-u5
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ĝiš-gid2-da a2 i3-ur4-ur4-re
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{ĝiš}mi-tum-e kur-še3 ka ba-ab-du8
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{ĝiš}tukul-e gu2-erim2-še3 teš2-bi i3-gu7-e
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im-ḫul u18-lu ĝiš-a mu-un-du3
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mar-uru5 še-ba mu-un-ne-en-gub
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ur-saĝ-ra uru2 maḫ saĝ gi4-a igi-še3 mu-un-na-ĝen
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saḫar i3-zi-zi saḫar i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
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du6-du6 dul2-la2 mu-un-sig9-ge4 a-ga-zig3 i3-tu11-be2
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u3-dub2 i3-šeĝ3 izi i3-sud-sud-sud izi lu2 ba-an-zal-e
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ĝiš maḫ ur2-bi-a mu-un-bal-e {ĝiš}tir-ra guru5 i-i
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ki šag4-bi šu ba-ši-ri-ri a gig-ga i-i
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{id2}idigna i3-suḫ3 i3-ur4-ur4 i3-lu3 šu im-tu-bu-ur
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{ĝiš}ma2-kar-nun-ta-e3-a me3-še3 ĝiri3 im-mi-ib2-ul4-e
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uĝ3-bi ki du-bi nu-un-zu e2-ĝar8 du3 i3-ak-ne
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mušen dal-le-bi saĝ ib2-ta-de6 a2-bi ki mu-un-teĝ3-ĝe26-e
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ku6-bi engur-ra ud mi-ni-ib-ra ka mu-un-ba-ba-e
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edin-na maš2-anše-bi u2-ku-uk mi-ni-ib-dug4 bir5-re-eš šu mi-ni-ḫu-uz3
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a-ĝi6 zig3-bi gul-bi kur gul-gul
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ur-saĝ {d}nin-urta ki-bal-a im-ma-DU i3-tuku
The hero Ninurta led the march through the rebel lands. He killed their messengers in the mountains, he crushed (?) their cities, he smote their cowherds over the head like fluttering butterflies, he tied together their hands with hirin grass, so that they dashed their heads against walls. The lights of the mountains did not gleam in the distance any longer. People gasped for breath (?); those people were ill, they hugged themselves, they cursed the Earth, they considered the day of the Asag's birth a day of disaster. The lord caused bilious poison to run over the rebel lands. As he went the gall followed, anger filled his heart, and he rose like a river in spate and engulfed all the enemies. In his heart he beamed at his lion-headed weapon, as it flew up like a bird, trampling the mountains for him. It raised itself on its wings to take away prisoner the disobedient, it spun around the horizon of heaven to find out what was happening. Someone from afar came to meet it, brought news for the tireless one, the one who never rests, whose wings bear the deluge, the Šar-ur. What did it gather there …… for Lord Ninurta? It reported the deliberations of the mountains, it explained their intentions to Lord Ninurta, it outlined (?) what people were saying about the Asag.
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lu2 im2-ma-bi kur-ra im-ra iri-ba bu-du-ug im-za
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gud a-ra-bi giriš-gin7 ĝir2-ĝir2-e ugu-ugu-bi mu-un-šu2
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šu-bi {u2}KI.KAL-gin7 teš2 ĝiš mu-un-ri

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.