A hymn to Nanše (Nanše A)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 4 - Hymns and cult songs · 256 sections

1
iri{ki} na-nam iri{ki} na-nam me-bi na-pad3-de3
There is a city, there is a city whose powers are apparent. Niĝin is the city whose powers are apparent. The holy city is the city whose powers are apparent. The mountain rising from the water is the city whose powers are apparent. Its light rises over the secure temple; its fate is determined. There is perfection in the city; the rites of Mother Nanše are performed accordingly. Its lady, the child born in Eridug, Nanše, the lady of the precious divine powers, is now to return.
2
niĝin6{ki} iri{ki} na-nam me-bi na-pad3-de3
3
iri{ki} kug-ga iri{ki} na-nam me-bi na-pad3-de3
4
kur a-ta il2-la iri{ki} na-nam me-bi na-pad3-de3
5
e2 zid-da ud-bi na-ed2-e nam-bi na-tar-re
6
iri{ki}-a niĝ2-du7-e pa na-mu-un-ed2-e
7
ĝarza ama {d}nanše-ke4 si na-an-sa2-sa2-e
8
nin-bi dumu eridug{ki}-ga tud-da
9
{d}nanše nin me kal-kal-la ki na-mu-un-gi4-gi4
10
agarin4 na-nam ama sa-ḫi-in na-nam
She is beer mash (?), the mother is yeast (?), Nanše is the cause of great things: her presence makes the storehouses of the land bulge prosper and makes the honey …… like resin in the storerooms. Because of her, there stand vessels with ever-flowing water; because of Nanše, the baskets containing the treasures of the Land cover the ground like the silt of the river. She is the lady of ……. (1 line unclear) Nanše is the lady who raises high the channels for the meadows and the irrigation ditches.
11
{d}nanše ama niĝ2 gal-gal-la na-nam
12
ama5 kalam-ma-ka dugud mu-un-de-ĝal2 [mu]-⌈un⌉-da-lu-lu
13
erim3-ma šim-gin7 ! šu ta-ḫab2 mu-un-da-ab-dug4
14
dug a nu-silig-ge mu-na-an-gub
15
{gi}pisaĝ niĝ2 erim3-ma kalam-ma-ka
16
{d}nanše-er saḫar-ĝar id2-da-gin7 ki mu-un-ši-ib2-us2
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nin dub-dim4-dub-dim4-ma-am3
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ĝalga niĝ2 aratta{ki}-ka
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{d}nanše nin pa5-kur5 pa5 an-še3 ĝal2-la-am3
20
nu-siki mu-un-zu nu-mu-un-su mu-un-zu
She is concerned for the orphan and concerned for the widow. She does not forget the man who helps (?) others, she is a mother for the orphan; Nanše, a carer for the widow, who always finds advice for the debt-slave; the lady who gives protection for refugees. She seeks out a place for the weak. She swells his collecting basket for him; she makes his collecting vessel profitable for him. For the righteous maiden who has taken her path, Nanše chooses a young man of means. Nanše raises a secure house like a roof over the widow who could not remarry.
21
lu2 lu2-ra a2 ĝal2-la mu-un-zu nu-siki-ka ama-a-ni
22
{d}nanše nu-mu-un-su-a saĝ en3 tar-ra-a-ni
23
e2 ur5-ur5-ra sa2 pad3-pad3-de3
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nin-e lu2-kar-ra ur2-ra bi2-in-tum2-mu
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sig9-ga-ar ki mu-na-ab-kiĝ2-kiĝ2-e
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gi-gur šu DU-ni mu-na-ab-buluĝ3-e
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{dug}šaĝan šu DU-ni ku-dun mu-na-tuku-tuku
28
geme2 si sa2 ĝiri3-ni mu-un-dab5-ba
29
{d}nanše šul a2 zid-da tuku-ni im-ma-ni-in-saĝ5-e
30
nu-mu-un-su lu2 dam nu-tuku-ni
31
{d}nanše ĝiš-ur3-gin7 e2 zid-da im-ma-an-gur3-ru-nam
32
nin-da niĝ2-du7-e pa na-mu-un-ed2-e
There is perfection in the presence of the lady. Lagaš thrives in abundance in the presence of Nanše. She chose the šennu in her holy heart and seated Ur-Nanše, the beloved lord of Lagaš, on the throne. She gave the lofty sceptre to the shepherd. She adorned Gudea with all her precious divine powers. The shepherd chosen by her in her holy heart, Gudea, the ruler of Lagaš, placed the lyre (?) Cow-of-Abundance among the tigi drums and placed the holy balaĝ drum at its side. While sacred songs and harmonious songs were performed before her, the kintur instrument praised the temple. The chief musician played the ibex horn for her: the song 'The house has been granted powers from the abzu', the sacred song of the house of Sirara about the princely powers was performed.
33
{d}nanše lagaš{ki}-a ḫe2-ĝal2-la šu mu-un-da-an-peš-e
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šennu šag4 kug-ge nam-mi-in-pad3
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ur-{d}nanše en ki aĝ2 lagaš{ki} barag-ge mu-da-ab-si
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sipad-ra ĝidru maḫ mu-na-an-šum2
37
gu3-de2-a me kal-kal-la-na šu mu-na-ab-du7-du7
38
sipad šag4 kug-ge bi2-in-pad3-da-ni
39
gu3-de2-a ensi2 lagaš{ki}-a-ke4
40
ab2 ḫe-nun tigi-a mu-ni-gub
41
balaĝ kug da-ba mu-ni-gub
42
šir3 kug šir3 ḫa-mun-na mu-un-na-du12-a
43
{urud}kiĝ2-tur-re e2 im-mi-i-i
44
a2 taraḫ nar gal-e šu mu-na-ab-tag-ge
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e2 abzu-ta me nam-ta-ba
46
e2 sirara{ki}-ka šir3 kug-ba me nun-ba mu-un-du12
47
ensi-ke4 ne-saĝ-ĝa2 mu-na-an-ĝen
The dream interpreteter went into the sacristy and made glittering silver ešde cups ready for her. The temple cook ……, and prepared hot and cold food for her. He …… of the oven for her (?) and …… made the great shovel bellow for her. After the meat had arrived in large bowls and cool water had been brought from the Sirara-canal, after the festival trappings had arrived from Lagaš and wine had been brought from the countryside, her great oven which vies with the great dining hall, Nanše's shrine of food offerings, was humming.
48
eš-de2 kug mul-mul šu mu-na-ab-du8
49
engiz ŠIM A mu-⌈na⌉-[…]
50
ninda kum2 ninda te-en-na si mu-un-na-ab-sa2-e
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SUR X ⌈?⌉ gir4-ra-ka mu-na-an-DU
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[…] X {ĝiš}mar maḫ-e gu3 nun mu-na-ab-be2
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niĝ2-šum-ma utul2 gal-la u3-um-de6
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a sed4-de3 id2-sirara{ki}-ta u3-um-de6
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niĝ2 asil3-la2 lagaš{ki}-ta u3-um-de6
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kurun a2-dam-ta u3-um-de6
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gir4 gal unu2 gal-da sa2-a-ni
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{d}nanše eš3 nidba-ka-ni šeg11 an-da-gi4-gi4
59
nin bur-šu-ma {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4
The lady, the matriarch of Enlil, Nanše, the lady of abundance who lives in the Land, the ……, the child of Enki, acting as a good woman for a good household, is to make the appointments. After she, as a good woman for a good household, has made the appointments, the regular offerings and daily goods of the house arrive unfailingly from the Bur-saĝ.
60
{d}nanše nin ḫe2-ĝal2-la kalam-ma til3-la-am
61
TUM.GAG.MUNUS dumu {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4
62
munus zid e2 zid-še3 lu2 ši-in-ĝa2-ĝa2
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munus zid e2 zid-še3 lu2 mu-un-ĝar-ra-ta
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bur-saĝ-ta sa2-dug4 niĝ2 ud-da e2-a si ba-sa2
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bi-lu-da-ba še nu-um-sig9-ge
If (?) the grain does not suffice for these rites and the vessels are empty and do not pour water, the person in charge of the regular offerings does not receive extra. After what was distributed from the foods and what was distributed from the drinks, after what was left over from the regular offerings and was not used by the house, after what was expended from the taxed fish, after what …… one iku of reedbeds ……, and after what was received in nuts and green plants from within the garden has entered (?), no mouth (?) may touch them. No one should carry the bread of the shrines in the district as bread allotment. …… prime beer, …… cool water.
66
dug ba-a-sud a nu-um-de2
67
lu2 sa2-dug4-ba um-ma-gub-ba šu dirig la-ba-gid2-i-de3
68
u2-ta ba-a a-ta ba-a
69
sa2-dug4-ge taka4-a e2-e muš3 tum2-ma
70
ku6 zag-ga-ka saĝ-bi zig3-ga
71
{gi}en3-bar iku 1-e saĝ-bi-ta gid2-i-de3
72
{ĝiš}ešx(LAM) u2 sig7-sig7 {ĝiš}kiri6-ka šag4-bi šu ti-a
73
u3-um-dib ka-ge nu-tag-ge
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ninda eš3 dag-gi4-a nidba-še3 nu-u8-il2-i
75
kaš saĝ šum2-ma lu2 im-mi-in-DU a sed6-de3 šu nu-um-DU
76
ne-saĝ ĝar-ra-bi si im-sa2-e muš3 nu-tum2-mu-da
The preparation for the temple's permanent first-fruit festival should not stop. Let there be a butter carrier who delivers butter to the house, let there be a milk carrier who delivers milk to the house and let there be a fish courier, a person of daily assignment. After the firewood carrier has brought his delivery from the open country into his lady's house, it should be deposited in its corners and sides.
77
i3 gur3-ru ḫe2-em e2-e i3 ba-an-dib-ba
78
ga gur3-ru ḫe2-em e2-e ga ba-an-dib-ba
79
ku6-da kaš4 lu2 a2 ud-da-ka ḫe2-a
80
u2 il2 edin-na niĝ2-tum2-ni
81
e2 nin-a-na-ka um-ma-an-dib-ba
82
ub-da a-gub-gub da a-gub-gub
83
eme-ta ĝal2-la inim gen6 inim kur2 di
He who confirms or contradicts what is uttered, who enters Nanše's house from outside (?), and does not leave it, the caretaker of Nanše's house, the child born to Utu, Lord Ḫendursaĝa ……. The king discriminates between the good and the evil deeds, Ḫendursaĝa discriminates between the good and the evil deeds. The …… which might be obstructed by evil he ……. ……, the heroic child of youthful Suen, …… the evil utterances for Nanše.
84
e2 {d}nanše-ka bar-ra ku4-ku4 šag4-ga nu-ed2-e
85
saĝ en3 tar e2 {d}nanše-ka dumu {d}utu tud-da
86
inim-bi-ta en {d}ḫendur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4 us2-am3 im-da-ab-ra
87
lugal-e zid dug4-ga mu-un-zu erim2 dug4-ga mu-un-zu
88
{d}ḫendur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4 zid dug4-ga mu-un-zu erim2 dug4-ga mu-un-zu
89
[X (X)] dug4-ga-bi erim2-e im-gi16-ib-a ĝiš mu-na-an-du3
90
{d}nin-[(X)] KA dumu ur-saĝ šul {d}suen-na-ke4
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{d}nanše-er inim-ĝar ḫul-bi-a GI mu-na-an-du3-e
92
nin dug4-ga zid-da me-ni nu-kar2-kar2
May the lady of the right commands and inalienable divine powers, Nanše, be praised in all the countries!
93
{d}nanše kur-kur-ra me-teš2 ḫe2-i-i
94
zag-mu ud ĝarza-ka
At new year, on the day of rites, the lady libates water on the holy ……. On the day when the bowls of rations are inspected, Nanše also inspects the servants during the appointments. Her chief scribe Nisaba places the precious tablets on her knees and takes a golden stylus in her hand. She arranges the servants in single file for Nanše and then it will be decided whether or not a leather-clad servant can enter before her in his leather, whether or not a linen-clad servant can pass before her in his linen. Any registered and …… hired (?) person about whom observers (?) and witnesses claim to witness his fleeing from the house will be terminated in his position ……. The king who always cares for the faithful servants, Haia, the man in charge of registration, registers on a tablet him who is said to be a faithful servant of his lady but deletes from the tablet her who is said not to be the maidservant of her lady.
95
nin-e bar kug-ga a bi2-in-de2
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ud bur šukur2-ra2 igi kar2-kar2-de3
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{d}nanše-e saĝ-e kurum7-ma igi ba-ni-ib-kar2-kar2
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dub-sar maḫ-a-ni {d}nisaba-ke4
99
dub kal-kal dub3-ba nam-mi-in-ĝar
100
gi-dub-ba kug-sig17 šu ba-ši-in-ti

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.