A hymn to Ninkasi (Ninkasi A)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 4 - Hymns and cult songs · 48 sections

1
a zal-le u3-tud-da [X] X [X X]
Given birth by the flowing water ……, tenderly cared for by Ninḫursaĝa! Ninkasi, given birth by the flowing water ……, tenderly cared for by Ninḫursaĝa!
2
{d}nin-ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4 mi2 zid-de3-[eš dug4-ga]
3
{d}nin-ka-si a zal-le u3-tud-da X […]
4
{d}nin-ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4 mi2 zid-de3-eš dug4-ga
5
iri-zu lal3-ḫar-re ki us2-sa
Having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great walls for you. Ninkasi, having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great walls for you.
6
bad3 gal-bi šu mu-ra-an-du7-du7
7
{d}nin-ka-si iri-zu lal3-ḫar-re ki us2-sa
8
bad3 gal-bi šu mu-ra-an-du7-du7
9
a-a-zu {d}en-ki en {d}nu-dim2-mud-e
Your father is Enki, Lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu. Ninkasi, your father is Enki, Lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.
10
ama-zu {d}nin-ti nin abzu-a
11
{d}nin-ka-si a-a-zu {d}en-ki en {d}nu-dim2-mud-e
12
ama-zu {d}nin-ti nin abzu-a
13
si niĝ2-silaĝ {ĝiš}mar maḫ-a du8-a-zu
It is you who handle the …… and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in a pit, the beerbread with sweet aromatics. Ninkasi, it is you who handle the …… and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in a pit, the beerbread with sweet aromatics.
14
šim-lal3-ta ub4-ba bappir2 ḫi-ḫi-a
15
{d}nin-ka-si si niĝ2-silaĝ {ĝiš}mar maḫ-a du8-a-zu
16
šim-lal3-ta ub4-ba bappir2 ḫi-ḫi-a
17
bappir2 udun-maḫ-e du8-a-zu
It is you who bake the beerbread in the big oven, and put in order the piles of hulled grain. Ninkasi, it is you who bake the beerbread in the big oven, and put in order the piles of hulled grain.
18
zar gu2-nida-am3 si sa2-sa2-am3
19
{d}nin-ka-si bappir2 udun-maḫ-e du8-a-zu
20
zar gu2-nida-am3 si sa2-sa2-am3
21
munu4 saḫar ĝar-ra a sig9-ga-zu
It is you who water the earth-covered malt; the noble dogs guard it even from the potentates (?). Ninkasi, it is you who water the earth-covered malt; the noble dogs guard it even from the potentates (?).
22
ur me-me nam gam-gam-ma-am3
23
{d}nin-ka-si munu4 saḫar ĝar-ra a sig9-ga-zu
24
ur me-me nam gam-gam-ma-am3
25
sumun2 dug-a a ĝar-ra-zu
It is you who soak the malt in a jar; the waves rise, the waves fall. Ninkasi, it is you who soak the malt in a jar; the waves rise, the waves fall.
26
i-zi zi-zi-dam i-zi ĝa2-ĝa2-dam
27
{d}nin-ka-si sumun2 dug-a a ĝar-ra-zu
28
i-zi zi-zi-dam i-zi ĝa2-ĝa2-dam
29
titab {gi}kid-maḫ-a barag2-ga-zu
It is you who spread the cooked mash on large reed mats; coolness overcomes ……. Ninkasi, it is you who spread the cooked mash on large reed mats; coolness overcomes …….
30
šag4 sed8 AN dib-ba-a
31
{d}nin-ka-si titab {gi}kid-maḫ-a barag2-ga-zu
32
šag4 sed8 AN dib-ba-a
33
{kaš}dida gal šu tab-ba ĝal2-la-zu
It is you who hold with both hands the great sweetwort, brewing it with honey and wine. Ninkasi, it is you who hold with both hands the great sweetwort, brewing it with honey and wine.
34
lal3 ĝeštin teš2-ba sur-ra-a
35
{d}nin-ka-si {kaš}dida gal šu tab-ba ĝal2-la-zu
36
lal3 ĝeštin teš2-ba sur-ra-a
37
[ĜAR …]
(1 line fragmentary) You …… the sweetwort to the vessel. Ninkasi, ……. You …… the sweetwort to the vessel.
38
[{kaš}dida dug-še3 mi-ni-in-X X]
39
{d}nin-ka-si ĜAR X […]
40
{kaš}dida dug-še3 mi-ni-in-X X
41
{dug}niĝ2-dur2-buru3-e gu3 nun di-dam
You place the fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound, appropriately on top of a large collector vat. Ninkasi, you place the fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound, appropriately on top of a large collector vat.
42
laḫtan maḫ-a mi-ni-in-si-sa2-am3
43
{d}nin-ka-si {dug}niĝ2-dur2-buru3-e gu3 nun di-dam
44
laḫtan maḫ-a mi-ni-in-si-sa2-am3
45
kaš si-im {dug}laḫtan-na de2-a-zu
It is you who pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat; it is like the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates. Ninkasi, it is you who pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat; it is like the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates.
46
{id2}idigna {id2}buranun-na saĝ sig10-ga-am3
47
{d}nin-ka-si kaš si-im {dug}laḫtan-na de2-a-zu
48
{id2}idigna {id2}buranun-na saĝ sig10-ga-am3

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.