A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi D)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 270 sections

1
lugal-ĝu10 ⌈gud⌉ [gal] a2 gu2-nu muš-ḫuš [igi] piriĝ-ĝa2
O my king, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Shepherd Šulgi, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Bull-calf born in the cattle-pen of abundance, thriving there! Mighty one fit for heroism, the ornament of his Land! Righteous man, invested with justice by Utu! Fierce leopard who feeds on rich milk, rampant bull who was born to be a great beast! A lapis-lazuli beard, a holy breast -- marvellous to behold! O king, joy of the royal tiara! Šulgi, ornament of the legitimate crown, wearing the diadem of godhead, named by An with a good name! Good shepherd, endowed with strength by Enlil, Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil's heart!
2
sipad šul-gi gud gal a2 gu2-nu muš-ḫuš igi piriĝ-ĝa2
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amar tur3 ḫe2-ĝal2-la tud-da gu2 mar-mar-re di-de3
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kalag-ga nam-ur-saĝ-ĝa2 tum2-ma ḫe2-du7 kalam-ma-na
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nitaḫ zid {d}utu-u3 niĝ2-si-sa2 saĝ-e-eš2 rig7-ga
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nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR) ban3-da ga zid gu7-a gud a2 gur8 piriĝ gal-še3 tud-da
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sun4 za-gin3 gaba kug-ga u6 di
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lugal saĝ-men-na ḫi-li-bi
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šul-gi aga zid-da ḫe2-du7-bi
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suḫ-gir11 nam-diĝir-ra tum2-tum2
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lu2 an-ne2 mu dug3-ga sa4-a
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sipad zid a2 šum2-ma {d}en-lil2-la2
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šul-gi {d}nin-lil2-la2 ki aĝ2 šag4-ga-na
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lugal-ĝu10 za-gin7 a-ba an-ga-kalag a-ba an-ga-a-da-sa2
O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!
15
a-ba za-gin7 šag4-ta ĝeštug2-ga šu daĝal mu-ni-in-dug4
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nam-ur-saĝ-zu-u3 [pa] ⌈ḫe2⌉-e3-e3
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nam-kalag-ga-zu [mi2 dug3 ḫe2]-e
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a nam-UG […] ?-me-en3
You destroy the offspring of ……. You are mighty, ……. You are brave, ……. When in the E-kur ……, in the hostile foreign lands you plunder cities; like a panting lion, you ……; like a cheetah, you ……; a dragon, you ……; (2 lines missing) You hurl angry words against the people of the foreign lands that are hostile to Nanna. You are adorned with splendid horns, like a virile wild bull born to be a great wild bull. You are a chariot, a waggon set on the road. Like a noble ass, by your vigorous running you bring joy to Enlil.
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gaba-ĝal2 X […]
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lipiš-tuku […]
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ud e2-kur-⌈ra⌉ […]
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kur gu2-⌈erim2⌉-[ĝal2-la-še3] iri gul-[gul-me-en3]
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piriĝ eme [ed2-de3 …]
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nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR)-[gin7 …]
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⌈ušumgal⌉ […]
gap
(2 lines missing)
28
kur gu2-erim2-ĝal2 {d}nanna-a-ka uĝ3-ba gu3 mi-ri2-a ra-ra-me-en3
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am zid am gal-še3 tud-da-gin7 si-muš gu2-nu-me-en3
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niĝ2-šu {ĝiš}gigir2 ḫar-ra-an-na sig10-ga-me-en3
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{anše}ni-is-ku-gin7 kaš4 ne-ĝal2-la-zu-u2 {d}en-lil2 ḫul2-le-me-en3
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{ĝiš}ildag2 ki-en-DU zag-ga du3-a-gin7 usu-a-me-en3
You are as strong as an ildag tree planted by the side of a watercourse. You are a sweet sight, like a fertile meš tree laden with colourful fruit. You are cherished by Ninegala, like a date palm of holy Dilmun. You have a pleasant shade, like a sappy cedar growing amid the cypresses.
33
meš3 zid gurun7-na gun3-a-gin7 u6 di dug3-ga-me-en3
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ĝišnimbar dilmun kug-gin7 {d}nin-e2-gal-ke4 mi2 zid dug4-ga-me-en3
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{ĝiš}erin duru5 ḫa-šu-ur2-re mu2-a-gin7 ĝissu dug3-ga-me-en3
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lugal-ĝu10 za-gin7 a-ba an-ga-kalag a-ba an-ga-a-da-sa2
O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!
37
a-ba za-gin7 šag4-ta ĝeštug2-ga šu daĝal mu-ni-in-dug4
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nam-ur-saĝ-zu-u3 pa ḫe2-e3-e3
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nam-kalag-ga-zu-u3 mi2 dug3 ḫe2-e
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sipad šul-gi a-zu [šag4] ⌈kug⌉-ga ud ba-an-ri-a
Shepherd Šulgi, when your seed was placed in the holy womb, your mother Ninsumun gave birth to you; your personal god, holy Lugalbanda, fashioned you; Mother Nintur nurtured you; An named you with a good name; Enlil lifted your head; Ninlil loved you. The princely son of the E-kur ……. The king, the holy barge which traverses the sky, Nanna, the lord ……, Suen ……. (2 lines fragmentary)
41
ama ugu4-zu {d}nin-⌈sumun2⌉-[ke4] mu-u3-tud-e-[en3]
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diĝir-zu kug {d}⌈lugal⌉-[ban3-da] mu-u3-dim2-e-[en3]
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ama {d}nin-tur5-⌈re⌉ [mi2 zid mu-u3-dug4]
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an-ne2 mu dug3-[ga mu-ri-in-sa4]
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{d}en-lil2-le saĝ-[zu mu-un-il2]
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{d}nin-lil2-le [ki mu-ra-an-aĝ2]
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dumu nun e2-kur-[ra] […]
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lugal ma2-gur8 [kug an-ne dirig-ga]
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{d}nanna en […]
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{d}suen […]
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UD IM X […]
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MU KI […] IM […]
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nu-dim2-[mud] […]
Nudimmud …… like small trees. He cherished you like an ildag tree ……, like a meš tree or a palm-tree. At that time, …… An …… wrote a tablet for you and decreed a fate for you. Ninlil's heart was soothed with prayers and supplications. The gods of heaven, with their ready approval, came to heaven, where the fates are decreed. Enlil, the king of all the lands, gave you shepherdship over the Land, in the south and in the highlands.
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ĝiš tur-tur-[gin7] mi2 […]
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{ĝiš}ildag2-gin7 […]
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{ĝiš}meš3 {ĝiš}[ĝišnimbar-gin7] mi2 zid mu-[ni-in-dug4]
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ud-ba […] an-ne2 X X […] dub mu-u3-ši-[X X] nam mu-u3-ši-[X X]
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{d}nin-lil2-[X] sizkur a-ra-[zu-a] šag4 im-ma-an-⌈sed4⌉
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an ki nam tar-tar-[ra] na-nam na-nam [diĝir an-na] ba-sug2-sug2-ge-[eš]
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sig-ta igi-nim-še3 kalam-[ma] {d}en-lil2 lugal kur-kur-[ra-ke4] nam-sipad-bi ma-ra-[an-šum2]
gap
(70 lines missing)
61
lugal-ĝu10 za-gin7 a-⌈ba⌉ [an-ga-kalag] a-ba an-ga-[a-da-sa2]
O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised! (70 lines missing)
62
a-ba za-⌈gin7⌉ [šag4-ta ĝeštug2-ga šu daĝal mu-ni-in-dug4]
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[nam-ur-saĝ-zu-u3 pa ḫe2-e3-e3]
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[nam-kalag-ga-zu-u3 mi2 dug3 ḫe2-e]
135
⌈ur⌉-saĝ-me-en3 [X X] X-e gub-ba-ta
You hero, after stepping on the ……, you roared at the foreign land hostile to Nanna. Hurl your battle-cry at the …… of Enlil! My king, …… (approx. 10 lines missing) ……, great bull …….
136
[kur] ⌈gu2⌉-erim2-ĝal2 {d}⌈nanna⌉-a-ka [X] ⌈šeg12⌉ i3-ni-gi4
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[X X]-še3 [{d}en]-⌈lil2⌉-la2-ka [X za]-pa-aĝ2 dub2-i3
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⌈lugal⌉-ĝu10 [X X X] X BA X
gap
(approx. 10 lines missing)
149
[X] du3-a […] KA gud gal X […]
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{ĝiš}šudul kalag-ga […] nam-ur-saĝ-ĝa2 […]
I, the king, …… upon the foreign lands a mighty yoke …… of heroism ……, I subject their people to destruction. After setting my foot on the neck of the foreign lands, I make …… on the rebel lands. After knocking down …… like ……, and placing my foot on his head, I make him die amid dripping blood ……. Against their ……, my battle-axe gnashes and gnashes its teeth like a sharp-toothed beast. Against their ……, which are well fitted with …… axes of meteoric iron and …… gold ore, like a …… snake my mouth brings forth venom. I cut off from his strength the strong one who resorts to his strength. My …… against their warriors as if they were fish. …… the small net over their runners, I catch them like gazelles in the woods. Having …… like fire (?) against their tireless runners, I make them fall violently into a trap set with a net like wild asses. I place …… on their boastful ones in the battle. My fierce weapons pour forth venom into them like a serpent ready to bite. After tearing out the entrails of its …… who are still alive, I make the man coiling like an attacking …… snake sink his head in the dust, like an ailing, neglected (?) bull. I make their little ones who survive eat bitter dust as long as they live, like the locust which consumes everything.
151
lugal-me-en3 kur-re [X] galam ba-ta-e3 uĝ3 sig10-še3 ga-am3-taka4
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gu2 kur-ra-ke4 ĝiri3 u3-mi-us2
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ki-bal-e ? si-ig-ga ga-am3-dug4
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[X X] X X NE X GIM X X u3-mu-ni-šub
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[saĝ]-⌈ĝa2⌉-ni ĝiri3 u3-mi-ni-us2
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[X X X]-ni u3-mun sur-ra gi4-ni-in-ug7
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[X X X]-la-dam SU niĝ2 NU BAD-bi-ir
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mitum-ĝu10-u3 ur zu2 sis-a-gin7 gug ḫu-mu-u3-ra-ra-ra
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IM DU8 [(X)] lu2-lu2-bi-ir
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{urud}dur10-gag nagga kug-sig17 saḫar-ba [X X] mi2 zid dug4-⌈ga⌉-[am3]
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muš ki-ur3-ra-gin7 ka-a-⌈ĝu10⌉-u3 ir ḫe2-e-tum2-de3
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a2-tuku a2-na mu-ši-in-ĝen-⌈na⌉
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a2-ni-ta X ga-mu-u3-ta-ab-X
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ĝuruš-bi-ir igi gul KUŠ2.DU-ĝu10-u3 ku6-gin7 šag4 ḫe2-en3-X
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dub3-tuku-bi-ir sa-tur-la2 u3-mu-na-ab-[X]
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maš-da3-gin7 {ĝiš}tir-re gi4-bi-in-[dab5]
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kaš4 dug4-ga ni2 nu-ten-na-bi-ir
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mu-bar-gin7 nim-ma u3-ma-ni-X
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anše edin-na-gin7 pu2 sa-a ak-a me-er-bi gi4-ni-in-šu2
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ka silim dug4-ga-bi-ir me3-a gu2 X ga-an-na-ĝar
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{ĝiš}tukul ḫuš-ĝu10 ušum guruš3 bur2-ra-gin7 uš ḫa-mu-na-ab-šum2-mu
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ZU NA GU2 IR A lu2 nu-ug7-a-ba lipiš-a-ni u3-ma-an-ta-ze2
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lu2 muš mir te-gin7 bal-bal-e-da-ni
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gud tur5-ra ni2-bi MU-a-gin7 saĝ-ĝa2-ni saḫar-e ⌈gi4⌉-ni-ib2-[X]
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di4-di4-la2 zi-bi-da kar-ra-⌈ba⌉
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zi-bi-a bir5 šu2-šu2-a-gin7 saḫar sis-sis gi4-bi2-ib2-gu7
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ĝiš-gid2-da-[ĝu10 X X gi4]-⌈bi2⌉-ib-mu2
I raise my spear against the ……, I set up my emblems at the border of the foreign lands. I fill my quiver, and my bow is stretched, ready to shoot, like a raging serpent. Barbed arrows flash before me like lightning. Like scudding bats, …… arrows fly into the mouth of battle. Slingstones rain down on their people; clay bullets clatter on their backs like hammerstones. With my throw-stick and sling I catch like swallows the crushed people of the rebel lands. My …… weapon sharpens its teeth at the head of the Land.
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{ĝiš}šu-nir-ĝu10 kur-ra zag-ba ga-am3-gub
179
e2-mar-uru5-ĝu10-u3 niĝ2 ga-am3-ta-si

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.