Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 422 sections

101
a-a-ĝu10 {d}en-lil2-le mu-un-de6-en
102
kur-ra {ĝiš}ig gal-gin7 igi-ba bi2-in-tab-en
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nam u3-mu-tar a-ba-a šu mi-ni-ib-bal-e
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inim u3-bi2-dug4 a-ba-a ib2-ta-bal-e
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lu2 gud3-ĝa2 ne-en ba-e-a-ak-a
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diĝir ḫe2-me-en inim ga-mu-ra-ab-dug4
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gu5-li-ĝa2 nam-ba-e-ni-kur9-re-en
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lu2-ulu3 ḫe2-me-en nam ga-mu-ri-ib-tar
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kur-re gaba-šu-ĝar nam-mu-ri-in-tuku-un
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meš3 anzud{mušen}-de3 a2 šum2-ma ḫe2-me-en
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lugal-ban3-da ni2 1(DIŠ)-ta ḫul2-la 1(DIŠ)-ta
Lugalbanda, partly from fright, partly from delight, partly from fright, partly from deep delight, flatters the bird, flatters Anzud: Bird with sparkling eyes, born in this district, Anzud with sparkling eyes, born in this district, you frolic as you bathe in a pool. Your grandfather, the prince of all patrimonies, placed heaven in your hand, set earth at your feet. Your wingspan extended is like a birdnet stretched out across the sky! …… on the ground your talons are like a trap laid for the wild bulls and wild cows of the mountains! Your spine is as straight as a scribe's! Your breast as you fly is like Niraḫ parting the waters! As for your back, you are a verdant palm garden, breathtaking to look upon. Yesterday I escaped safely to you, since then I have entrusted myself to your protection. Your wife shall be my mother (he said), You shall be my father (he said), I shall treat your little ones as my brothers. Since yesterday I have been waiting for you in the mountains where no cypresses grow. Let your wife stand beside you to greet me. I offer my greeting and leave you to decide my destiny.
112
ni2 1(DIŠ) šag4 ḫul2-la 1(DIŠ)-ta
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mušen-e mi2 iri im-me
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anzud{mušen}-de3 mi2 iri im-me
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mušen šu-ur2 sig7 niĝin5-a tud-da
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anzud{mušen} šu-ur2 sig7 niĝin5-a tud-da
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sug-a a tu5-tu5-zu-a a-ne dug4-dug4
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pa-bil2-ga-zu nun ḫal-ḫal-la-ke4
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an šu-zu-še3 mu-un-ĝar ki ĝiri3-zu-še3 mu-un-ĝar
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pa-zu an-na sa am3-ši-im-la2-la2-en nu-mu-[…]
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ki-še3 umbin-zu am kur-ra immal2 kur-ra {ĝiš}es2-!-am3 ba-nu2
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murgu-zu dub sar-sar-re-me-en
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ti-ti-zu {d}niraḫ dar-a-me-en
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šag4-sud-zu kiri6 sig7-ga u6-e gub-ba-me-en
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ša-dug4-ga-ta zi-ĝu10 mu-ri-de6 zag-ĝu10 mu-ri-us2
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dam-zu ama-ĝu10 ḫe2-am3 bi2-in-dug4
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za-e ad-da-ĝu10 ḫe2-me-en bi2-in-dug4
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di4-di4-la2-zu-ne šeš-ĝu10-ne-ka nam-ba-e-ni-in-ku4-ku4
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ša-dug4-ga-ta ḫa-šu-ur2-ra nu-zu kur-ra-ka ki-gub mu-ra-ak-e
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dam-zu silim-ĝa2 ḫe2-mu-e-da-gub
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silim-ĝu10 ga-mu-ra-dug4 nam tar-ra-ĝu10 ga-mu-ra-ab-[bur2]-ra-a
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mušen-e ni2-bi mu-un-na-ra-ba-e ul mu-un-ši-ak-e
The bird presents himself before him, rejoices over him, Anzud presents himself before him, rejoices over him. Anzud says to holy Lugalbanda, Come now, my Lugalbanda. Go like a boat full of precious metals, like a grain barge, like a boat going to deliver apples, like a boat piled up high with a cargo of cucumbers, casting a shade, like a boat loaded lavishly at the place of harvest, go back to brick-built Kulaba with head held high! -- Lugalbanda who loves the seed will not accept this.
133
anzud{mušen}-de3 ni2-bi mu-un-na-ra-ba-e ul mu-un-ši-ak-e
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anzud{mušen}-de3 kug lugal-ban3-da-ar gu3 mu-na-de2-e
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ĝa2-nu lugal-ban3-da-ĝu10
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{ĝiš}ma2 kug-gin7 {ĝiš}ma2 še-gin7
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{ĝiš}ma2 {ĝiš}ḫašḫur bal-bal-e-gin7
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{ĝiš}ma2 ukuš2-a an-dul3 ak-a-gin7
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{ĝiš}ma2 ki-buru14 ḫi-li du8-du8-a-gin7
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šeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-še3 saĝ il2-la ĝen-na
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lugal-ban3-da lu2 numun-e ki aĝ2-am3 šu nu-um-<ma>-gid2-de3
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{d}šara2 dumu ki aĝ2 {d}inana-gin7
Like Šara, Inana's beloved son, shoot forth with your barbed arrows like a sunbeam, shoot forth with reed-arrows like moonlight! May the barbed arrows be a horned viper to those they hit! Like a fish killed with the cleaver, may they be magic-cut! May you bundle them up like logs hewn with the axe! -- Lugalbanda who loves the seed will not accept this.
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ti zu2-zu-a ud-gin7 e3-i3
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GIL-ak iti6-gin7 e3-i3
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ti zu2 lu2 ra-ra-bi muš-šag4-tur3 ḫe2-e
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ku6 {urud}dur10 ra-gin7 tu6 kud ḫe2-e
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ad {urud}dur10 ra-gin7 niĝ2-keše2 ḫe2-ak-e
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lugal-ban3-da lu2 numun-e ki aĝ2-am3 šu nu-um-ma-gid2-de3
May Ninurta, Enlil's son, set the helmet Lion of Battle on your head, may the breastplate (?) that in the great mountains does not permit retreat be laid on your breast! May you …… the battle-net against the enemy! When you go to the city, ……! -- Lugalbanda who loves the seed will not accept this.
149
{d}nin-urta dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4
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{tug2}saĝšu piriĝ me3-a ugu-za ḫe2-eb-dul
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? BU TUKU kur gal-la gaba nu-gi4 gaba-za ḫe2-eb-tab
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kur-ra sa U3 NI KA SA UŠ […]
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iri im-ši-du-u5 ki X […]
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lugal-ban3-da lu2 numun-e ki [aĝ2-am3 šu nu]-⌈um⌉-ma-⌈gid2⌉-[de3]
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ḫe2-ĝal2 {dug}šakir kug {d}dumu-zid-da-[ka-ka]
The plenty of Dumuzi's holy butter churn, whose butter is the butter of all the world, shall be granted (?) to you. Its milk is the milk of all the world. It shall be granted (?) to you. -- Lugalbanda who loves the seed will not accept this. As a kib bird, a freshwater kib, as it flies along a lagoon, he answered him in words.
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i3-bi ki-šar2-ra-ke4 ša-ra-X […]
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gara2-bi ki-šar2-ra-ke4 ša-ra-X […]
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lugal-ban3-da lu2 numun-e ki aĝ2-am3 šu nu-um-ma-gid2-de3
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ki-ib{mušen} ki-ib{mušen} engur-ra sug gid2-i-gin7 inim-ma ⌈mu⌉-[na]-ni-ib-gi4
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mušen-e ĝeštug2 mu-un-ši-ĝa2-ar
The bird listened to him. Anzud said to holy Lugalbanda, Now look, my Lugalbanda, just think again. It's like this: a wilful plough-ox should be put back in the track, a balking ass should be made to take the straight path. Still, I shall grant you what you put to me. I shall assign you an allotted destiny according to your wishes.
161
anzud{mušen}-de3 kug lugal-ban3-da-ar gu3 mu-na-de2-e
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ĝa2-nu lugal-ban3-da-ĝu10
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inim šag4-ga sig10-ge ur5-gim-ma-am3
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gud erim2 du-us2-a sig10-ge5-dam
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anše dub3 guz-za ḫar-ra-an si sa2 dab5-be2-dam inim-inim ma-gub ga-ri-gub
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nam tar-ra šag4-ge guru7-a-zu ĝe26-e ga-mu-ri-ib-tar
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kug lugal-ban3-da mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
Holy Lugalbanda answers him: Let the power of running be in my thighs, let me never grow tired! Let there be strength in my arms, let me stretch my arms wide, let my arms never become weak! Moving like the sunlight, like Inana, like the seven storms, those of Iškur, let me leap like a flame, blaze like lightning! Let me go wherever I look to, set foot wherever I cast my glance, reach wherever my heart desires and let me loosen my shoes in whatever place my heart has named to me! When Utu lets me reach Kulaba my city, let him who curses me have no joy thereof; let him who wishes to strive with me never say Just let him come! I shall have the woodcarvers fashion statues of you, and you will be breathtaking to look upon. Your name will be made famous thereby in Sumer and will redound to the credit of the temples of the great gods.
168
zag-še-ĝa2 kaš4 ḫe2-ĝal2 nam-ba-kuš2-u3-de3-en
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a2-ĝa2-a lirum ḫe2-ĝal2
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a2-ĝu10 ga-sud-sud a2-ĝu10 na-an-gig-ge
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ud-gin7 du {d}inana-gin7
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ud 7-e ud {d}iškur-ra-gin7
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izi-gin7 ga-il2 nim-gin7 ga-ĝir2
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igi du8-a bar-ra-ĝa2 ga-ĝen
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igi il2-la-ĝa2 ĝiri3-ĝu10 ga-ab-gub
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šag4-ge guru7-ĝa2 an-ta ga-ab-gi4
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ki šag4-ĝu10 na-an-ga-ma-ab-be2-a {kuš}e-sir2-[ĝu10] ga-du8
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{d}utu iri-ĝu10 kul-aba4{ki}-še3 am3-ku4-ku4-de3-ne-a
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lu2 aš2 dug4-ga-ĝu10 nam-ba-e-ši-ḫul2-e-en
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lu2 du14 mu2-a-ĝu10 ḫe2-du-ĝu10 nam-me
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alan-zu ĝiš-dim2-ba um-mi-dim2 u6-e gub-ba-me-en
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mu-zu ki-en-gi-ra pa e3 ḫa-bi2-ak
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e2 diĝir gal-gal-e-ne-ka me-te-aš bi2-[ib]-ĝal2
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anzud{mušen}-de3 kug lugal-ban3-da-ra ⌈gu3⌉ [mu-na]-de2-e
So Anzud says to holy Lugalbanda: The power of running be in your thighs! Never grow tired! Strength be in your arms! Stretch your arms wide, may your arms never become weak! Moving like the sun, like Inana, like the seven storms of Iškur, leap like a flame, blaze like lightning! Go wherever you look to, set foot wherever you cast your glance, reach wherever your heart desires, loosen your shoes in whatever place your heart has named to you! When Utu lets you reach Kulaba your city, he who curses you shall have no joy thereof; he who wishes to strive with you shall never say Just let him come! When you have had the woodcarvers fashion statues of me, I shall be breathtaking to look upon. My name will be made famous thereby in Sumer and will redound to the credit of the temples of the great gods. May …… shake for you …… like a sandal. …… the Euphrates …… your feet …….
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zag-še-za kaš4 ḫe2-ĝal2 nam-[ba-kuš2-u3-de3]-⌈en⌉
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a2-zu-a lirum [ḫe2-ĝal2]
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a2-zu sud-sud-a a2-[zu na-an-gig-ge]
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ud-gin7 du {d}[inana-gin7]
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ud 7 {d}[iškur-ra]-⌈gin7⌉
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izi-gin7 il2-la nim-gin7 ĝir2-a
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igi du8-a bar-ra-za ĝen-na
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igi il2-la-za ĝiri3-zu gub-bi2-ib
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šag4-ge guru7-a-zu an-ta gi4-bi2
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ki šag4-zu na-an-ga-ra-ab-be2-e-a {kuš}e-sir2-zu du8-a
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{d}utu iri-zu kul-aba4{ki}-še3 am3-ku4-ku4-de3-en-na-a
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lu2 aš2 dug4-ga-zu nam-ba-e-ši-ḫul2-le-en
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lu2 du14 mu2-a-zu ḫe2-du-zu nam-me
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[alan]-ĝu10 ĝiš-dim2-ba um-mi-dim2 u6-e um-mi-gub
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[mu]-ĝu10 ki-en-gi-ra pa e3 ba-ni-ak
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[e2] ⌈diĝir⌉ gal-gal-e-ne-ka me-te-aš im-mi-ib-ĝal2

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.