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CDLI Literary 000416 (Shulgi X) composite (P429785)

Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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DesignationCDLI Literary 000416 (Shulgi X) composite
IDP429785
LanguageSumerian
PeriodOld Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
GenreLiterary
Find spotNippur (mod. Nuffar)
Coordinates32.1271, 45.2300

English translation

By etcsl · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)

LineEnglish
surface a 1At the king sailing
surface a 2to Uruk towards the princely divine powers
surface a 3Sumer and Akkad marvel.
surface a 4Did he not he moor the boat at the quay of Kulaba?
surface a 5With a big wild bull of the mountains with uplifted horns
surface a 6with a sheep led by the hand of an en priest at his right side,
surface a 7with a reddish kid and a bearded kid doubled up on the breast,
surface a 8before Inanna in the shrine of E-anna he enters.
surface a 9Good shepherd Šulgi, loving heart, dressed himself in a ma garment,
surface a 10put a ḫili wig as a crown on his head.
surface a 11Inanna marveled,
surface a 12and spontaneously struck up a song,
surface a 13singing the lyrics:
surface a 14“When for the king, for the lord,
surface a 15I have bathed,
surface a 16when for the shepherd Dumuzi I have bathed,
surface a 17when I have adorned my sides with clay,
surface a 18when with resin I have colored my nose,
surface a 19when with kohl I have covered my face,
surface a 20when with hands of his fairness,
surface a 21he has covered my hips,
surface a 22when the lord who lies down beside silver Inanna,
surface a 23the shepherd Dumuzi,
surface a 24(has said) ‘I would loosen that of the lap’,
surface a 25when in my radiant arms he has grown calm,
surface a 26when ... like choice beer
surface a 27... had touched,
surface a 28when my lap-wool has ...,
surface a 29my pa-wool he has played,
surface a 30when he has put hand to my vulva,
surface a 31when on my sweet stomach he has lain,
surface a 32like his night boat ...,
surface a 33like his thin boat he has finished,
surface a 34when on the bed he has caressed me,
surface a 35then the lord I shall caress,
surface a 36I shall decree him a good destiny;
surface a 37the good shepherd Šulgi I shall caress,
surface a 38decree him a good destiny.
surface a 39his thick arms I shall caress,
surface a 40shepherdship of all lands
surface a 41as his destiny I shall decree.”
surface a 42The lady, the mountain-crystal of heaven,
surface a 43delight of the black-headed,
surface a 44youthful woman who excels her mother,
surface a 45by her father granted divine powers,
surface a 46Inanna, daughter of Suen,
surface a 47for Šulgi, son of Ninsun,
surface a 48decrees a destiny:
surface a 49“Your ‘walking to the fore in battle’ am I!
surface a 50Your ‘weapon carrier in combat like an attendant’ am I!
surface a 51Your ‘advocate in the assembly’ am I!
surface a 52Your ‘breath-giver in the campaign’ am I!
surface a 53Shepherd chosen by ... silver are you!
surface a 54King, good provider of Eanna are you.
surface a 55carneol of An’s Irigal are you!
surface a 56fir for running,
surface a 57fit to lift head in the august dais are you!
surface a 58fit to take a seat on the lapis throne,
surface a 59your head fit to wear a colorful,
surface a 60as to your body, fit to spread out a the fleece-garment,
surface a 61fit for stomach-hanging of the garment of royalty,
surface a 62fit to lift to the side the mitum-weapon,
surface a 63fit to open knees with mace,
surface a 64fit to send off straight the broad arrows,
surface a 65fit for throwing stick and shield bound to the hips,
surface a 66as to your hands, fit for silver staff,
surface a 67as to your feet, fit for silver sandals,
surface a 68You have knees! On the campaign, fit for running,
surface a 69fit for playing, like a calf of lapis, on my silver breast;
surface a 70May your loving stomach be lasting!
surface a 71An has doned this for you, may he never alter it!
surface a 72May Enlil, the decreer of fates, never change it!”
surface a 73So did Inanna caress him.
surface a 74He who knows the joyful heart of Ninegal
surface a 75sheared a black kid
surface a 76bathed a white kid;
surface a 77wild bulls of the mountains by their noses tied up
surface a 78—house of the august breeding bull roars—
surface a 79up to the young man Utu into the temple E-babbar brings,
surface a 80up to the young man Utu raising his radiant forehead,
surface a 81For Šulgi, good shepherd of Sumer, he decress a fate:
surface a 82“King, colorful words, sweet face,
surface a 83mighty hero, born to be a lion,
surface a 84young cow standing firm in its vigor,
surface a 85valiant, unbound in his strength,
surface a 86whose feet trample great mountains:
surface a 87the heroes of the foreign lands you have brought down,
surface a 88you have trampled upon all the thrones,
surface a 89your name to the edge of heaven you have established.
surface a 90Your king—to Ašimbabbar go in peace.”
surface a 91And so at Enegir, city built in splendor,
surface a 92did he not moor the boat?
surface a 93“Seed placed by the prince in the silver womb, born on the bright mountain,
surface a 94Ninazu, like a wild bull lowing in drink,
surface a 102...”
surface a 103“... like date syrup, ghee ...
surface a 104your are hero! Come down from the revolting lands ...
surface a 105King, the lord of prayers and supplications chooses you by heart;
surface a 106shepherd Šulgi, the lord of prayers and supplications chooses you by heart;
surface a 107Who sets a king given strength by Enlil?
surface a 108Who enters to your ...?
surface a 109Who exits to your ...?
surface a 110... who knows your stomach should not desire your strength.
surface a 111Having desired ... battle with you
surface a 112what escapes your outstretched arms?
surface a 113When like the thunder bird you shriek, who stands before you?
surface a 114When like the storm you howl,
surface a 115the foreign lands, open reeds ablaze, mountains trembling like reeds,
surface a 116in the houses of the foreign lands watching,
surface a 117Tidnum well marveled.
surface a 118Like Utu, your terror radiates in battle.
surface a 119Like Nergal, your mace drools in death
surface a 120your lance reaches into the blood of the Land.
surface a 121The great door of the city are you, the great wall of the Land are you!
surface a 122A net piled up over heaven and earth are you, lead-jenny positioned with Sumer are you,
surface a 123May your ... call in abundance!
surface a 124May the words of Enlil, enormous things, create shade on your head!
surface a 125May the loving heart Inanna never abandon you!”
surface a 126After Ninazu had called ... blessings again and again,
surface a 127he let ewes goodly produce endless lambs,
surface a 128let jennies goodly produce endless kids,
surface a 129let white cows set up calves,
surface a 130then before Nanna in his E-temen-ni-guru he enters with them,
surface a 131head held high in the most fitting house of the the royal household, in its royal offering place, the silver place.
surface a 132His king Ašimbabbar casts a joyous glance at him,
surface a 133for Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, decreed a fate:
surface a 134“Hero, lord, mighty one of the foreign lands, right arm of the Land,
surface a 135you have achieved victory for me, have carried out the commandeds.
surface a 136The houses of the rebel lands that I have cursed you have reduced to ruin mounds.
surface a 137May you never grow weary of perfecting the divine powers for me every month at new moon!
surface a 138Like Ašnan, may your name be as sweet in the mouth of the Land and in the mouths of all the countries!
surface a 139May silver Ningal, lady of the Enunna, like the wooden frame of a waterskin spread out her lap for you!
surface a 140Thus did Suen decree a good fate.
surface a 141In the Egal-maḫ of Ninegal, he took his seat on the silver throne.
surface a 142The Ištaran of Sumer, omniscient from the womb,
surface a 143renders the judgments of the Land in due order,
surface a 144makes decisions for the Land in due order
surface a 145lets no strong man wrong the weak,
surface a 146lets mother speak sweetly to her child
surface a 147lets child answer truthfully to his father.
surface a 148Sumer is filled with abundance,
surface a 149Ur prolonged in splendor,
surface a 150... establishes.
surface a 151Because the king exulted in his triumph and let his might radiate,
surface a 152his heroism set well,
surface a 153made the rebellious lands bow,
surface a 154made our city Ur raise neck in prosperity;
surface a 155king, adorned with a face of colorful lapis, son of Enlil;
surface a 156lifting up head to heaven in broad crown,
surface a 157with An in his lofty place taking counsel, sitting with Uraš on a big throne,
surface a 158manth and passing days making the Land of Sumer and all the foreign lands play joyously—
surface a 159praise be to Lord Ašimbabbar!
surface a 160praise be to Nisaba!

Transliteration (ATF)

From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
surface a
1lugal ma2 na-mu-u5
2ki unu{ki}-ge? me nam-nun-na-sze3
3ki-en-gi ki-uri u6 mu-e
4kar kul-aba4{ki}-ba-ke4 ma2 na-ga-am3-mi-in-us2
5am-gal hur-sag-ga2 a2 il2-il2-la-da
6udu en zi-de3 szu-a la2-a-da
7masz2 su4? masz2 za-la2 gaba-a tab-ba-da
8{d}inanna-ra esz3 e2-an-na-ka mu-na-da-an-ku4-ku4-u3
9sipa zi szul-gi-re sza3 ki-ag2 {tug2}ma6 tug2 mu-mu4
10hi-li men-sze3 sag-ga2 mi-ni-gal2
11{d}inanna-ke4 u6 mu-ni-du11
12ni2-te-ni-sze3 szer3 ba-szi-ni-ra
13en3-du-sze3 im-e
14lugal-ra u3-mu-un-ra
15a mu-na-tu17-a-gin7
16su-ba du5-mu-zi-ra a mu-na-tu17-a-gin7
17im da-mu szu tag-ge4 du11-ga-gin7
18u3 szembulug3-ga giri17-mu gun5-gun5-na-gin7
19szembi2-zi i3-bi2-ga2 mi-ni-mar-mar-ra-gin7
20szu na-am3-sa6-ga-na-ka
21ib2-ib2-mu mi-ni-dim2-dim2-ma3-gin7
22u3-mu-un i3-nu2 ku3 {d}inanna{na}-sze3
23su-ba du5-mu-zi-de3
24ur2-ra ga-ni-du8-a-na-gin7
25x IM a2 gi-rin-ga2 GI4 in-tenx(GUR8)-tenx(GUR8)-na-gin7
26x x sag kasz sag-gin7
27mu-da?-[...] mu-tag-ga-gin7
28siki-ur2-mu ga2-an-suh3?-suh3-a-gin7
29siki-pa-mu a-ne in-da-an-du11-ga-gin7
30gal4 ku3-ga2 szu bi2-in-ma-ra-gin7
31sza3 ze2-ba-ga2 u3 x x-bi i3-x-nu2?-a-gin7
32ma2 ge6-ni-gin7 mu-x-x-an?-gin7
33ma2 sal-la-ni-gin7 mu-un-til-til-la-gin7
34ki-nu2-a mu10 ma3-ni-du11-ga-a-gin7
35u3-mu-un-ra mu10 da-an-du11
36na-am3 ze2-eb2 du10-mu-ni-ib2-tar{ar}
37sipa zi szul-gi-ra mu10 da-an-du11
38na-am3-ze2-eb2 du10-mu-ni-ib2-tar{ar}
39a2-gu2-ra-na mu10-sze3 da-an-du11
40na-am3-sipa kur-kur-ra
41na-am3-sze3 du10-mu-ni-ib2-tar{ar}
42nin su3-ra2-ag2 an-na
43hi-li sag-ge6-ga
44munus szul-la ama-ni-ra diri-ga
45a-a-ne2 me ba-a
46{d}inanna dumu {d}suen-na-ke4
47szul-gi dumu {d}nin-sun2-ka-ra
48nam mu-ni-ib2-tar-re
49me3-a igi-sze3 du-zu ge26-me-en3
50szen-szen-na sahar-gin7 tukul la2-zu-me-en3
51ukken-na inim-mud-gal2-zu-me-en3
52har-ra-an-na zi-sza3-gal2-zu ge26-me-en
53sipa sza3-ge pa3-da x ku3-ga-me-en3
54lugal u2-a zi e2-an-na-me-en3
55szuba3 iri12-gal an-na-me-en3
56du-du-e ba-ab-du7-u3
57bara2 mah-ha sag il2-la-a ba-ab-du7-me-en3
58{gesz}gu-za za-gin3-na dur2 gar-ra-a ba-ab-du7-u3
59sag-zu men gun3-a ba-ab-du7-u3
60bar-zu-sze3 {tug2}suluhu su3-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
61tug2 nam-lugal-la2-ka sza3 la2-a ba-ab-du7-u3
62{gesz}mitum-ma a2 il2-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
63{gesz}tukul-a du10 bad-bad-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
64ti su3 {gesz}pan si sa2-e-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
65{gesz}ilar {kusz}eb2-ur3-ra za3 kesz2-ra2-a ba-ab-du7-u3
66szu-zu-sze3 gidri ku3-ge ba-ab-du7-u3
67giri3-zu-sze3 {kusz}e-sir2 ku3-ge ba-ab-du7-u3
68du10-tuku-me-en3 har-ra-an-na kas4 di-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
69amar za-gin3-na-gin7 gaba ku3-ga2 a-ne di-de3 ba-ab-du7-u3
70sza3 ki-ag2-zu-u3 u4 he2-em-su3-re6-e
71an-ne2 mi-ri-in-ak na-da-ab-kur2-re
72{d}en-lil2 lu2 nam tar-tar-re-de3 szu na-an-ni-ib-bala-e
73{d}inanna-ke4 mu10 mu-ni-in-du11
74sza3 hul2-la {d}nin-e2-gal-ka zu
75masz2 ge6 umbin ba-an-kin
76masz2 babbar2 a ba-an-tu17-tu17
77am hur-sag-ga2 giri17-sze3 ba-an-la2-la2
78e2 ninda2-mah gu3 nun di-dam
79szul {d}utu-u3 esz3 e2-babbar2-ra mu-na-ni-ib2-ku4-ku4
80szul {d}utu-u3 sag-ki zalag-ga-ni mu-szi-ib2-zi-zi
81szul-gi sipa zi ki-en-gi-ra-ra nam mu-ni-ib2-tar-re
82lugal inim gun3-gun3 igi sa6-sa6
83ur-sag kal-ga pirig-sze3 tu-da
84sun2 tur nam-szul-ba gub-ba
85lipisz-tuku ne3-ni-e nu-kesz2-ra2
86hur-sag gal-gal-la giri3-ni gar
87ur-sag kur-ra mu-ri-ri-ge-esz
88bara2-bara2-ge giri3 sa-ga i3-mi-du11
89mu-zu za3 an-na-sze3 mu-u3-gar
90lugal-zu {d}asz-im2-babbar2-ra silim-ma gen-na
91enegir3{ki} iri me-lam2-ma du3-a
92ma2 nam-ga-am3-mi-in-us2
93a nun-ne2 sza3 ku3-ga ru-a kur szubax(|MUSZ.SZA|) tu-da-a
94{d}nin-a-zu gu4-sun2 nag-a ad-ba gu3 di-gin7
95na? [...]
96[...]
97[...]
98[...]
99[...]
100[...]
101[...] x-zu-ra [...]
102KA [...] x MU GA2 [...]
103x x-e lal3-gin7 i3-nun [...]
104ur-sag-me-en ki-bala-ta gen-na [...]
105lugal en inim szu12-da ra2-zu-ke4 sza3 mu-ni-pa3-pa3-de3
106sipa szul-gi en szu12-da ra2-zu-ke4 sza3 mu-ni-pa3-pa3-de3
107lugal {d}en-lil2-le a2 szum2-ma a-ba mu-da-ga2-ga2
108HI? x-zu-u3 a-ba mu-ku4-ku4
109HI? x-na-zu-u3 a-ba ba-ta-e3-e3
110x x lu2 sza3-zu-u3 mu-zu-a a2-zu al na-me
111[...] me3-zu al i3-bi2-in-du11-ga
112a2 su3-su3-da-zu a-na ba-ta-an-e3-e3
113anzu{muszen}-gin7 gu3 dub2-da-zu-ne igi-zu-u3 a-ba ba-gub
114u4-gin7 sze17 gi4-gi4-da-zu-ne
115kur gi bad-ra2 izi-da hur-sag gi-gin7 sag im-mi-sag3-sag3
116kur-ra e2-bi-a igi mu-ni-bar-bar
117tidnum-e u6 du10 i3-mi-du11
118{d}utu-gin7 ni2-zu-u3 me3-a dalla im-ma-ni-e3
119{d}nergal-gin7 {gesz}tukul-zu-u3 usz2-a ka im-ma-ni-ba
120gesz-gid2-da-zu-u3 u3-mun kalam-ma-ka szu ba-ni-gid2-gid2
121ig gal iri-a-me-en3 bad3 gal kalam-ma-me-en3
122sa-par4 an ki-e dub-ba-me-en3 {gesz}ud5-sag ki-en-gi-da si-ga-me-en3
123ar2?-zu-u3 he2-gal2-la x hu-mu-ni-ib2-pa3-de3
124inim {d}en-lil2-la2 nig2 gu-la-am3 sag-za an-dul3-esz2 he2-em-ak
125sza3 ki-ag2 {d}inanna-ke4 szu na-ri2-bar-re
126{d}nin-a-zu-u3 mu10-ma szu12-da mi-ni-in-pa3-pa3-da-ta
127u8 zi-da sila4 mu-ni-in-szar2-szar2{ar}
128ud5 zi-da masz2 mu-ni-in-szar2-szar2{ar}
129ab2 babbar2-ra amar bi2-in-du3-du3
130{d}nanna e2-temen-ni2-guru3-na mu-na-da-an-ku4-ku4-u3
131e2 nam-lugal e2 he2-du7-ba ki-lugal-gub ki ku3-ba sag bi2-in-il2
132lugal-a-ni {d}asz-im2-babbar2-re igi hul2-hul2-la-ni mu-szi-bar-ba-re
133szul-gi sipa zi ki-en-gi-ra-ra nam mu-ni-ib2-tar-re
134ur-sag en gaba-gal2 kur-kur-ra a2 zi-da kalam-ma
135u3-ma gub-ba-mu-u3 sa2 bi2-du11 inim mu-du11-ga im-ma-ni-gar
136ki-bala nam ba-da-ku5-ra2-ga2 e2-bi du6-du6-ra2 mi-ni-gar-gar
137iti u4-sakar me szu du7-du7-ga2 na-ba-an-kusz2-u3-de3-e
138{d}asznan2-gin7 mu-zu ka kalam-ma-ka ka kur-kur-ra-ka du10-ge-esz2 he2-eb?-gal2?
139ku3 {d}nin-gal nin e2-nun-na-ke4 gesz-{kusz}ummu3-da-gin7 ur2 hu-mu-ri2-in-PI-PI
140{d}suen-e nam du10 mu-ni-in-tar{ar}
141e2-gal-mah {d}nin-e2-gal-la?-kam bara2 ku3-ga-a dur2 ba-a-gar
142{d}isztaran ki-en-gi-ra sza3-ta nig2-nam zu-u3
143di kalam-ma ki-bi-sze3 i3-ku5-re6
144ga-esz8 kalam-ma ki-bi-sze3 i3-ba-re
145a2-tuku si-ga sza-ga2-asz-sze3 la-ba-an-gur4-e
146ama dumu-ni-ir sa6-ga mu-na-ab-be2
147dumu a-a-ni-ir nig2-gi-na mu-na-ni-ib2-gi4-gi4
148ki-en-gi-re he2-gal2 mu-da-ab-si?
149uri2{ki}-e giri17-zal mu-da-ab-su13
150SZID-ni-sze3 ga-ki-tir-da mu-da-a-ga2-ga2
151lugal-e kur silim-e-esz2 du11-ga-a nam-kal-ga-ne-e dalla bi2-in-e3-a
152nam-ur-sag-ga2-ni szu zi bi2-in-ga2-ra
153ki-bala-e gu2 ki-sze3 bi2-in-la2-a
154iri-me uri2{ki}-e he2-gal2-la gu2-bi mi-ni-ib2-zi-ga-a
155lugal suhx(MUSZ) za-gin3-na gun3-a dumu {d}en-lil2-la2
156men dagal-la sag an-sze3 il2-il2
157an-da ki mah-ha-na sza3 kusz2-u3 ur5-ra-asz-da bara2 gal-e si-a
158i3-ti u4 zal-la kalam-e kur-kur-re a-ne hul2-la du11?-du11
159en {d}asz-im2-babbar2 za3-mu10
160{d}nisaba za3-mu10

Sources & licences

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.