An adab to Bau for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan B)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 66 sections

1
nin ni2 guru3 maḫ zu an ki nam-nir-ra šu du7
Lady, imbued with fearsomeness, whose greatness is recognised in heaven and on earth, perfect in nobility! Mother Bau, foremost among ladies, warrior ……! Powerful goddess, who perfectly controls the august divine powers, proud one, …… great intelligence! ……, true woman, wise lady who has been made knowledgeable from birth! Daughter of An, expert, eloquent, who holds everything in her hand! Lady, great doctor of the black-headed people, who keeps people alive, and brings them to birth. Šu-ḫalbi, incantation priestess of the numerous people, ……! Merciful, compassionate one of the Land, lady of justice!
2
ama {d}ba-u2 gu2-gal nin-e-[ne] ur-saĝ X X
3
diĝir er9 me maḫ-a šu du7 ⌈saĝ⌉ il2 ? gal ?
4
su4-un-su4-na munus zid nin gal-an-⌈zu⌉ šag4-ta umun2 ak
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dumu an-na mas-su2 inim pad3-de3 niĝ2-nam šu-ni si
6
nin a-zu gal saĝ gig2-ga lu2 til3-le lu2 u3-tud
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šu-ḫal-bi šim-mu2 uĝ3 lu-a X X X X X
8
šag4-la2 tuku arḫuš2 sud kalam-ma nin niĝ2-?-[na]
9
{d}en-lil2 lugal kur-kur-ra-[ke4]
Enlil, the king of all the foreign countries, Nunamnir, the lord who determines the fates, decreed something of great importance in the shrine Nibru, in Dur-an-ki: he made you exalted in the shining E-kur, ……. You are the strong spread-net of Nunamnir. Anguba priestess, who provides the E-kur with food, you are in charge of the wine. You are Enlil's exalted daughter-in-law, you are the one who stands next to him with the libation water (?). Because you prostrated yourself humbly with supplications, Nunamnir, the prince of all the foreign countries, entrusted to you the exalted office of accountant of heaven and earth, and exalted you, giving you the rank of lady of the shrine which brought the seeds of mankind forth.
10
{d}nu-nam-nir en nam tar-re-[de3]
11
eš3 nibru{ki} dur-an-ki-a-ka gal-bi bi2-in-[dug4]
12
e2-kur za-gin3-na mi-ni-im-maḫ-en IGI RA X
13
sa-par3 kalag-ga {d}nu-nam-nir-ra-[me-en]
14
an-gub-ba e2-kur-ra-ka šukur2 šum2-mu ĝeštin za-a-[kam]
15
{d}en-lil2-la2 e2-gi4-a maḫ-a-ni-me-en a gub-ba-ni-[me]-⌈en⌉
16
?-na šita-ba ki la2-a-zu-uš
17
{d}nu-nam-nir nun kur-kur-ra-ke4
18
nam-saĝ-tun3 maḫ an ki šu-zu im-mi-in-kur9
19
mu-un-il2-en nam-nin eš3 numun i za-ra mu-ra-an-šum2
20
a-a ugu-zu an diĝir maḫ-e tug2 tug2-ba13 tug2 mi-ri-in-mu
Your own father, An, the highest god, clothed you in the ba garment. He gave you the warrior of Enlil, Ninĝirsu, as your husband. He bestowed on you the E-ninnu and Iri-kug, the shrine which brought forth the seeds of mankind. He has set up your lofty throne-dais in Lagaš, in Ĝirsu, the mooring post of the Land, in E-ĝalga-sud, your beloved residence, in Tar-sirsir, the temple of ladyship; and now all the gods of the land of Lagaš bow down before your august residence.
21
ur-saĝ {d}en-lil2-la2 {d}nin-ĝir2-⌈su⌉ ⌈nitalam⌉-še3 ma-ra-an-šum2
22
e2-ninnu iri-kug eš3 numun i saĝ-⌈e-eš⌉ mu-ri-rig7
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lagaš{ki} ĝir2-su{ki} ⌈dim⌉ gal kalam-ma-ka
24
e2-ĝalga-sud ki-tuš ki aĝ2-za
25
tar-sir2-sir2 e2 nam-nin-a-ka barag maḫ-zu mi-ni-ri
26
ki-tuš maḫ-zu-še3 diĝir ki lagaš{ki}-a im-ši-gam-e-de3-eš
27
nin zag dib me-ni šu nu-teĝ3-ĝa2
Supreme lady, whose divine powers are untouchable, daughter of An, omniscient great lady, young woman, Mother Bau, you have looked favourably on the young man of handsome form, prince Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil; you have determined for him a good fate once and for all.
28
dumu an-na nin gal niĝ2-nam zu
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šul me-dim2 sag9 nun {d}iš-me-{d}da-gan dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4
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ki-sikil ama {d}ba-u2 igi zid mu-ši-bar nam dug3 mu-ni-tar ud til3-la e3-a-še3
31
sa-gid2-da-am3
Sa-gida.
32
ama {d}ba-u2 nun {d}iš-me-{d}da-gan dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ra nam-til3 ud su3-ra2 šum2-mu-dam
It is Mother Bau who is to give prince Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil, a life of numerous days.
33
ĝiš-gi4-ĝal2 sa-gid2-da-[bi-im]
Ĝišgiĝal of the sa-gida.
34
?-nam-til3-la e2 {d}en-lil2-la2-še3
You introduced prince Išme-Dagan, clasping to his breast a white lamb and a sheep of auspicious omens, into the E-namtila, Enlil's temple, and made him stand at the royal offering place of life. Then you saluted the Great Mountain Enlil and told him: Father Enlil, great lord of all the foreign countries, determine the fate of Išme-Dagan, call him by name! Enlil, the king of all the foreign countries, looked encouragingly upon him, beaming radiantly; and determined a fate for Išme-Dagan:
35
sila4 babbar udu inim-ĝar sag9-ga gaba-na im-mi-tab
36
nun {d}iš-me-{d}da-gan za-e im-me-ni-kur9
37
KI.LUGAL.GUB nam-til3-la-da im-da-e-gub
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kur gal {d}en-lil2-ra KA ki mu-ne-ĝal2
39
a-a {d}mu-ul-lil2 u3-mu-un gal kur-kur-ra
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{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan-na na-aĝ2 de3-eb2-tar mu-ni de3-eb2-pad3 e-ne-er mu-ne-dug4
41
{d}en-lil2 lugal kur-kur-ra-ke4 igi nam-til3-la saĝ-ki zalag-ga-ni mu-un-ši-in-bar
42
{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan-na nam mu-ni-ib2-tar-re
43
{ĝiš}gu-za me ur4-ur4 aga zid ud su3-ra2-a ĝidru uĝ3 gen6-ne2 us2 1(AŠ)-a !-!-e
Prince Išme-Dagan, as your fate, you shall be given a throne which concentrates all divine powers, an enduring legitimate crown and a sceptre which maintains the people and keeps them united. The Tigris and the Euphrates shall bring abundance, carp-filled waters for you, their yield shall be long-lasting for you …… . Their banks shall grow vegetation for you, they shall bring (?) you rejoicing. The irrigated orchards shall yield (?) syrup and wine for you. The fertile arable tracts shall grow dappled grain for you; grain piles shall be heaped up for you. Cattle-pens shall be built, sheepfolds shall be enlarged for you. Your name shall be exalted as king; you shall be elevated as prince. All the foreign countries from below as far as the uplands shall bring tribute for you. You shall shine radiantly in the grand main courtyard like sunlight. Your food offerings shall never cease in the shining E-kur. This is how Enlil determined his fate. From the E-kur he gave huge strength to the king. He has been made lordly; Enlil's words made him a man without rival. He directed his steps proudly there and entered the august palace, the royal residence. As he took his seat on the shining holy throne-dais, the palace …….
44
nun {d}iš-me-{d}da-gan nam-e-eš ḫe2-tar
45
{id2}idigna {id2}buranuna-e ḫe2-ĝal2 a-eštub{ku6} ḫu-mu-ra-ab-tum3 gun2-bi ḫa-ra-gid2-e kun X […]
46
gu2-gu2-bi u2-šim ḫu-mu-ra-an-mu2 asila ḫa-ra-ab-la2
47
pu2-{ĝiš}kiri6-ba lal3-e ĝeštin-e ki ḫu-mu-ra-ni-ib2-us2
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a-gar3 zid-bi še gu-nu ḫa-ra-ab-mu2 guru7-bi ḫa-ra-dub-dub
49
tur3 ḫa-ra-du3-du3 amaš ḫa-ra-daĝal-daĝal
50
nam-lugal-la mu ḫu-mu-ni-maḫ
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nam-nun-na saĝ an-še3 ḫe2-ni-il2
52
sig igi-nim kur-zag til-la-bi gu2-un ḫa-mu-ra-ab-il2
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kisal maḫ nun ud-gin7 dalla ḫe2-ni-in-e3
54
nidba-zu e2-kur za-gin3-na muš nam-ba-an-tum3-mu
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{d}en-lil2-le nam-še3 mu-ni-in-tar
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lugal-la e2-kur-ta a2 maḫ mu-na-šum2
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nir mu-un-ĝal2 inim {d}en-lil2-la2-ta gaba-šu-ĝar nu-mu-un-tuku
58
ĝiri3 il2-il2-la im-gub-gub-be2
59
e2-gal maḫ ki-tuš nam-lugal-la-ka im-ma-da-an-ku4-⌈ku4⌉
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barag kug za-gin3-na dur2 bi2-in-ĝar e2-gal mu-un-[…]
61
sa-ĝar-[ra-am3]
Sa-ĝara.
62
munus zid dumu an-na {d}en-lil2 gu3 ma-[ra-de6] barag kug za-[gin3 …-ab-be2]
Good woman, daughter of An, Enlil has called for you! …… the holy shining throne-dais …… told you; young woman, Mother Bau, the daughter of An, Enlil has called for you! …… the holy shining throne-dais …… told you: Bestow on Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil, a life of numerous days!
63
ki-sikil ama {d}ba-u2 dumu an-na {d}en-lil2 [gu3] ma-ra-de6 barag kug [za-gin3 …]-ab-be2
64
{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan dumu {d}en-[lil2-la2]-ra nam-til3 ud su3-ra2 saĝ-e-[eš] rig7-a-ni-ib
65
u19-ru12-bi-im
Its uru.
66
[a-da]-ab {d}ba-u2-kam
An adab of Bau.

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.