A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi A)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 109 sections

1
lugal-me-en šag4-ta ur-saĝ-me-en
I, the king, was a hero already in the womb; I, Šulgi, was born to be a mighty man. I am a fierce-looking lion, begotten by a dragon. I am the king of the four regions; I am the herdsman and shepherd of the black-headed people. I am a respected one, the god of all the lands.1
2
{d}šul-gi-me-en ba-tu-ud-de3-en-na-ta nitaḫ kalag-ga-me-en
3
piriĝ igi ḫuš ušumgal-e tud-da-me-en
4
lugal an ub-da 4-ba-me-en
5
na-gada sipad saĝ gig2-ga-me-en
6
nir-ĝal2 diĝir kur-kur-ra-me-en
7
dumu u3-tud-da {d}nin-sumun2-kam-me-en
I am a child born of Ninsumun. I am the choice of holy An's heart. I am the man whose fate was decided by Enlil. I am Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintur. I am he who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion of Utu. I am Šulgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness.
8
šag4-ge pad3-da an kug-ga-me-en
9
lu2 nam tar-ra {d}en-lil2-la2-me-en
10
{d}šul-gi ki aĝ2 {d}nin-lil2-la2-me-en
11
mi2 zid dug4-ga {d}nin-tur5-ra-me-en
12
ĝeštug2 šum2-ma {d}en-ki-kam-me-en
13
lugal kalag-ga {d}nanna-a-me-en
14
piriĝ ka du8-a {d}utu-u3-me-en
15
{d}šul-gi ḫi-li-a pad3-da {d}inana-me-en
16
anše-ĝir2-nun-na kaskal-e du7-u3-me-en
I am a mule, most suitable for the road. I am a horse, whose tail waves on the highway. I am a stallion of Šakkan, eager to run. I am a donkey of Šakkan, who loves running.
17
anše-kur-ra ḫar-ra-an-na kun sud-sud-me-en
18
dur3 {d}šakkan2-na kaš4-e kiĝ2-ĝa2-me-en anše {d}šakkan2 kaš4!(DU)-e ki aĝ2-me-en
19
dub-sar gal-zu {d}nisaba-kam-me-en
I am a knowledgeable scribe of Nisaba; I have perfected my wisdom just as my heroism and my strength my distinction . Reliable words can reach (?) me. I cherish righteousness but do not tolerate wickedness. I hate anyone who speaks wickedly.
20
nam-ur-saĝ-ĝu10-gin7 nam-kalag-ga-ĝu10-gin7 [nam]-⌈kal⌉-la-ĝu10-gin7
21
ĝeštug2-ĝa2 šu ḫu-mu-ni-du7-am3
22
inim gen6-na-bi ḫa-ma-da-sa2-am3
23
niĝ2-si-sa2-e ki ḫa-ba-aĝ2-ĝa2-am3
24
niĝ2-erim2-e ki la-ba-ra-aĝ2-ĝa2-am3
25
inim niĝ2-erim2 dug4-ga ḫul ḫa-ba-ra-gig-ga-am3
26
{d}šul-gi-me-en lugal kalag-ga saĝ-bi-še3 e3-a-me-en
Because I am a powerful man who enjoys using his thighs, I, Šulgi, the mighty king, superior to all, strengthened (?) the roads, put in order the highways of the Land. I marked out the double-hour distances, built there lodging houses. I planted gardens by their side and established resting-places I established gardens (?) and resting-places by their side , and installed in those places experienced men. Whichever direction one comes from, one can refresh oneself when the time is cool; and travellers and wayfarers who arrive at night can seek haven there as in a well-built city.
27
a2-nun-ĝal2 zag-še-ni-še3 ḫul2-la i3-me-en-na-ke4-eš
28
ĝiri3 ḫu-mu-gur kaskal kalam-ma-ke4 si ḫe2-mi-sa2-sa2
29
danna ḫu-mu-gen6 e2 gal-la ḫe2-bi2-du3
30
zag-ba {ĝiš}kiri6 ḫe2-bi2-gub ḫe2-bi2-ib2-du3 ki ni2 dub2-bu ḫe2-bi2-ĝar zag-ba UNU.SAR-bi ki ri-ib du ḫe2-bi-ĝal2
31
ki-bi lu2 zu-a ḫe2-em-mi-tuš
32
sig-ta du igi-nim-ta du-e
33
a2 sed4-bi-še3 ni2 ḫe2-eb-ši-te-en-te-en
34
nitaḫ ḫar-ra-an-na du kaskal-e ĝi6 ba-an-da-sa2-a
35
iri du3-a-gin7 zi-ni ḫa-ba-ši-in-tum3
36
mu-ĝu10 ud ul-le2-a-aš ĝa2-ĝa2-de3 ka-ta nu-šub-bu-de3
So that my name should be established for distant days and never fall into oblivion, so that my praise should be uttered spread throughout the Land, and my glory should be proclaimed in the foreign lands, I, the fast runner, summoned my strength and, to prove my speed, my heart prompted me to make a return journey from Nibru to brick-built Urim as if it were only the distance of a double-hour.
37
ar2-ĝu10 kalam-ma ak-ak-de3 !-barag2-e-de3
38
ka tar-ĝu10 kur-kur-ra si-il-le-de3
39
dub3-tuku-me-en usu-ĝu10 ib2-zig3-ge kaš4-e kab2 di-de3
40
nibru{ki}-ta šeg12 urim2{ki}-ma-še3
41
danna 1-gin7 šu ni10-ni10-da šag4-ĝu10 ḫa-ma-ab-dug4
42
piriĝ nam-šul-bi-ta nu-kuš2-u3 ne3-ba gub-ba-me-en
I, the lion, never failing in his vigour, standing firm in his strength, fastened the small niĝlam garment firmly to my hips. Like a pigeon anxiously fleeing from a …… snake, I spread my wings; like the Anzud bird lifting its gaze to the mountains, I stretched forward my legs. The inhabitants of the cities which I had founded in the Land lined up for me; the black-headed people, as numerous as ewes, looked at me with sweet admiration.
43
{tug2}niĝ2-lam2 ban3-da ib2-ĝa2 ba-du3
44
tum12{mušen} nir-DU sumur-bi dal-la-gin7 a2-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-sud-sud
45
anzud{mušen} kur-bi-še3 igi il2-la-gin7 dub3-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-bad-bad
46
iri ma-da ki ĝar-ĝar-ra-ĝu10 ḫa-ma-sug2-sug2-ge-eš-am3
47
uĝ3 saĝ gig2-ga u8-gin7 lu-a u6 dug3 ḫa-ma-ab-dug4
48
maš2 ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ki-ur3-bi-še3 ḫub2 sar-sar-re-gin7
I entered the E-kiš-nu-ĝal like a mountain kid hurrying to its habitation, when Utu spreads broad daylight over the countryside. I filled with abundance the temple of Suen, a cow-pen which yields plenty of fat. I had oxen slaughtered there; I had sheep offered there lavishly butchered there . I had šem and ala drums resound there and caused tigi drums play there sweetly. I …… the balaĝ player (?). I, Šulgi, who makes everything abundant, presented food-offerings there and, like a lion, spreading fearsomeness from (?) the royal offering-place, I bent down (?) and bathed in flowing water; I knelt down and feasted in the Egal-maḫ of Ninegala.
49
{d}utu a2-dam-ma ud daĝal-la
50
e2-kiš-nu-ĝal2-še3 ḫa-ba-kur9-re-en
51
e2 {d}suen-na tur3 i3 gal-gal-la ḫe2-ĝal2-la ḫe2-bi2-du8
52
gud ḫa-ba-ni-gaz udu ḫa-ba-ni-šar2 ḫa-ba-ni-šum
53
šem5 a2-la2-e šeg11 ḫa-ba-gi4
54
tigi niĝ2 dug3-ge si ḫa-ba-ni-sa2 balaĝ di MU […]
55
{d}šul-gi lu2 niĝ2 lu-lu-me-en ninda ĝiš ḫa-ba-ni-tag
56
piriĝ-gin7 KI.LUGAL.GUB-ta ni2 il2-la-ĝu10-ne
57
e2-gal-maḫ {d}nin-e2-gal-la-ka-kam
58
dub3 ḫe2-ni-dub2 a zal-le ḫe2-ni-tu5
59
dub3 ḫe2-ni-gam ninda ḫu-mu-ni-gu7
60
{d}nin-immax(LAGAB×SIG7){mušen} {d}nin-ninna2{mušen} sur2-du3{mušen}-gin7 ḫa-ba-zig3-ge-en
Then I arose like an owl (?), like a falcon to return to Nibru in my vigour. But a storm shrieked, and the west wind whirled around. The north wind and the south wind howled at each other. Lightning together with the seven winds vied with each other in the heavens. Thundering storms made the earth quake, and Iškur roared in the broad heavens. The rains of heaven mingled with the waters of the earth. The rains of heaven competed with the waters of the earth. Small and large hailstones drummed on my back.
61
nibru{ki}-še3 a-la-ĝa2 ḫa-ba-gur-re-en
62
ud-bi-a ud-de3 gu3 ḫe2-eb-be2 mar-uru5 ḫe2-ni10-ni10
63
{tum9}mir mir-ra {tum9}u18-lu mur-bi ni2-bi-a ḫu-mu-un-ša4
64
nim ĝir2-ĝir2 tum9 7-bi-ta an-na teš2 ḫe2-ni-gu7
65
ud te-eš dug4-ga ki ḫe2-em-tuku4-tuku4
66
{d}iškur-re an niĝ2-daĝal-la-ba gu3 ḫu-mu-ni-dub2-dub2
67
im an-na-ke4 a ki-ta gu2 ḫe2-em-ma-da-ab-la2 [im] an-na-da [a ki]-ke4 saĝ ḫe2-[ma]-⌈da⌉-ab-sa2
68
na4 tur-tur-bi na4 gal-gal-bi
69
murgu-ĝa2 dub-dab bu-⌈ud⌉-ba-ad ḫe2-em-mi-ib-za
70
lugal-me-en ni2 ba-ra-ba-da-te su ba-ra-ba-da-zig3
I, the king, however, did not fear, nor was I terrified. I rushed forth like a fierce lion. I galloped like an ass in the desert. With my heart full of joy, I ran (?) onward. Trotting like a solitary wild ass, I traversed a distance of fifteen double-hours by the time Utu was to set his face toward his house; my saĝ-ursaĝ priests looked at me with admiration. …… numerous (?) ……; I prayed in the …… of Enlil and Ninlil. I celebrated the ešeš festival in both Nibru and Urim on the same day!
71
piriĝ ban3-da-gin7 gur5-ru-uš ḫu-mu-bur2-bur2
72
anše edin-na-gin7 ḫub2-ĝa2 ḫu-mu-šu2-šu2
73
šag4 la-la-ĝal2-la-ĝu10 kaš4 ḫu-mu-ni-gun3-gun3
74
dur3 dili du-gin7 im2-ma-ĝu10-ne
75
{d}utu e2-a-ni-še3 igi i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-de3
76
kaskal 15 danna-am3 šu ḫu-mu-ni10-ni10
77
saĝ-ur-saĝ-ĝu10-ne igi ḫu-mu-un-du8-uš-am3 {d}[…] lu-a […] a-lal3 {d}⌈en⌉-[lil2] [{d}]nin-lil2-⌈?⌉ [šu] ḫe-mi-il2
78
ud 1-a nibru{ki} urim2{ki}-ma eš3-eš3-bi ḫu-mu-ak
79
šeš gu5-li-ĝu10 šul {d}utu-am3
I drank beer in the palace founded by An with my brother and companion, the hero Utu. My singers praised me with songs accompanied by seven tigi drums. My spouse, the maiden Inana, the lady, the joy of heaven and earth, sat with me at the banquet.
80
e2-gal an-ne2 ki ĝar-ra-am3 kaš ḫu-mu-un-di-ni-naĝ
81
nar-ĝu10 tigi 7-e šir3-re-eš ḫa-ma-an-ne-eš
82
nitalam-ĝu10 ki-sikil {d}inana nin ḫi-li an ki-a
83
gu7 naĝ-bi-a ḫu-mu-da-an-tuš-am3
84
ni2-ĝu10 silim-eš2-am3 ba-ra-ab-dug4
Truly I am not boasting! Wherever I look to, there I go; wherever my heart desires, I reach. By the life of my father holy Lugalbanda, and Nanna the king of heaven and earth, I swear that the words written on my tablet are ……. (at least 4 lines missing or unclear) …… since the days of yore, since ………, no king of Sumer as great as I has existed for the people. An placed a legitimate and lofty golden good silver silver crown firmly on my head.
85
igi il2-la-ĝa2 ḫe2-eb-ĝen-ne-en
86
šag4-ge guru7-ĝa2 an-ta ḫe2-eb-gi4
86A
inim-inim-ma im sar-ra-ĝu10
86B
zi a-a-ĝu10 kug {d}lugal-ban3-!
86C
{d}nanna lugal an ki-ke4
gap
(at least 4 lines missing or unclear)
86I
⌈me⌉ […] X ⌈?⌉-e-a-ed3-de3
86H
[…] ⌈ud⌉ ul-le-a-še3
86J
lugal [ki-en-gi]-⌈?⌉ ĝe26-gin7-nam uĝ3-e ba-ra-ĝal2-la
87
an-ne2 aga zid maḫ kug-sig17 kug-zig3 kug saĝ-ĝa2 ḫe2-em-mi-in-gen6
88
e2-kur za-gin3-na {ĝiš}ĝidru ḫa-ba-dab5-ba
In the lustrous E-kur, I seized the holy sceptre and I lifted my head towards heaven on a shining dais, a throne with firm foundation. I consolidated my kingship, subdued the foreign lands, fortified the Land. May my name be proclaimed among the well-guarded people of the four regions! May they praise it in holy hymns about me! May they glorify my majesty, saying:
89
barag babbar-ra {ĝiš}gu-za suḫuš gen6-na saĝ an-še3 ḫa-ba-il2
90
nam-lugal-la a2 ḫu-mu-ni-maḫ
91
kur ḫu-mu-gam-gam kalam ḫu-mu-ge-en-ge-en
92
an ub-da 4 uĝ3 saĝ sig10-ga-a-ba mu-ĝu10 ḫe2-em-mi-sa4
93
šir3 kug-ĝa2 ḫu-mu-un-e-ne

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.