Dilmun is a “pure”, “immaculate” and “bright” “land of life”; neither death nor disease is known in it. The only thing that is not there is fresh water. Therefore, the great god Enki calls upon the sun god Utu and asks him to bring fresh water from the earth to Dilmun. After this, the blessed country turns into a blooming and fruit-bearing garden. In this garden, the great mother goddess Ninhursag, without experiencing labor pains, which is especially emphasized in the myth, gives birth to eight daughters, who turn into eight plants covered with juicy sweet fruits. Enki suddenly wanted to taste them. He called his advisor, the two-faced god Isimud, and said:
- These are the herbs, won’t I decide their fate?
What is this, what is this?
Isimud plucks out these precious plants, brings them to his master, and one by one gives them to Enki to eat.
Having learned about this, the angry Ninhursag cursed Enki with a deadly curse and called various misfortunes on his head. The goddess withdrew from the world, both gods and people, and no one could find her.
Meanwhile, the plants eaten by Enki turned into a deadly poison for him and eight different organs of the great god’s body were affected. Experiencing terrible agony and pain, he fell to the ground and sobbed. All the gods were powerless to help Enki, even the great Enlil could not ease his brother’s suffering. All living things on earth and in heaven were given over to great sorrow.
At this time of sorrow, the foxes appeared at the meeting of the gods and offered to return the mother goddess for a certain reward. The gods, of course, agreed, and somehow the cunning fox managed to persuade Ninhursag to help the unfortunate Enki. She took pity on him, sat down next to the defeated god and asked him eight times in a loud voice what was hurting him. After each response from the patient, a corresponding healing deity was born.
Each of these deities touched the corresponding organ and Enki again became alive, healthy and cheerful.
"Between the bright cities - give it to her -
Dilmun is a country, a blessed country.
In the brightest Sumer - give it to her -
Dilmun is a country, a blessed country.
Dilmun is a blessed land,
Dilmun is an immaculate country,
Dilmun is an immaculate country,
Dilmun is a shining land.
And he himself was there, in Dilmun he lay down.
Enki and his wife lay down there,
That land is immaculate, that land is radiant, -
And he himself was there, in Dilmun he lay down,
Enki with Ninsikila - with the "Immaculate" - he lay down, -
That land is immaculate, that land is radiant.
And there, in Dilmun, the raven does not caw.
The bird of death does not invite death.
The lion doesn't strike there.
The wolf does not tear up the lamb.
There the guard dog doesn’t know how to guard the kids.
There the pig does not eat grain.
The widow on the roof does not spill malt.
The bird of heaven does not peck the malt.
There the dove does not move its head.
There is an eye disease - “I have an eye disease” - he doesn’t say.
There, the headache - “I have a headache” - does not say.
There the old woman does not say, “I am the old woman.”
There the elder does not say, “I am an elder.”
There the girl doesn’t wash her face and doesn’t splash water from the window.
There's a carrier - "pile up!" - doesn't scream.
There the guard does not circle the battlements.
There the singer does not sing songs,
Crying outside the city does not start.
Niisikila Eaki, to his father, says so
"You gave me a city, you gave me a city,
What do you give me in your gift?
So you gave me Dilmun-city, you gave me a city,
What do you give me in your gift?
O my father, you gave me a city, you gave me a city,
What do you give me in your gift?
There is no water in the canals in my city!
Here you gave me a city, here you gave me a city,
What do you give me in your gift?
There is no water in the canals in my city!
Its wells with bitter water
Do not allow grains to grow
In the fields, in the furrows, in the fields!
My city is not “a coastal house, a pier for the whole country!”
May Dilmun become a "Coastal House"
the pier of the whole country!
Enki's father Ninsikils answers:
"From now on and forever under the sun,
When the sun-Utu rises in the sky,
From... in front of Ezen - "place of celebrations",
From the “house of the horned fish” of the month Nanna,
By the lips of coastal water, running water,
grains will rise from the ground for you,
Let the water run out along your spacious paths.
Your city will give you plenty of water to drink.
Dilmun will give you plenty of water to drink.
Let your wells of water become bitter
wells with sweet water!
Your city is "a coastal home,
may it become the haven of the whole country!
Dilmun "Coastal House,
may it become the haven of the whole country!
Country Tukrish gold Harali,
Let light lapis lazuli cross you.
The country of Meluhha is a desirable, precious carnelian,
Magana tree of the sea, the most valuable
Let it be delivered to you on ships!
Country Marakhshi rock crystal precious light
Let him cross!
The country of Magan is strong copper,
Diorite, stone vessels will be delivered!
Overseas country, luxurious ebony tree,
Let the royal cross!
"Country of Tents" the best wool, ore powder
Let him deliver it to you!
The country of Elam has its cargo - the finest wool
Let him cross!
Temple of Ur, holy city, shrine of the kingdom,
Grain, oil, the best fabrics on large ships
Let him deliver it to you!
Let the spacious sea of abundance ferry it to you!
O city! His dwellings will be wonderful dwellings!
O Dilmun! His dwellings will become beautiful dwellings!
Its grain is pure, pure,
His dates are large, large,
He will reap his harvest three times!
Its trees are giant trees!
From now on and forever under the sun!
And then the sun-Utu rose in the sky.
From... in front of Ezen - "place of celebrations",
From the "house of the horned fish" in the month of Nanna,
By the lips of coastal water, running water, grains from the earth
For her they got up, went out,
The water ran along the spacious paths,
The city gives her plenty of water to drink,
Dilmun gives her plenty of water to drink,
Its wells with bitter water became wells
With sweet water.
Water in the fields, water in the fields, gives growth in the furrow
Grains and cereals.
Her city became a “Coastal Home,
harbor of the whole country!
Dilmun became a "Coastal House"
harbor of the whole country!
So from the days from those under the sun, from now on and forever
Truly so be it!
And he himself. Mind the Wise, before Nintu,
What is the mother of the country,
He, Enki, the Wise Mind, before Nintu,
What is the mother of the country, -
His root filled the ditch with seed,
His root reeds dipped in seed,
Its root gave life to the mighty cover.
He cried: “No one walks in the swamps!”
Enki cried out: “No one walks in the swamps!”
He swore by his life to heaven.
The one that lies in the swamps, the one
that lies in the swamps, her,
Damgalnunu - “his great wife”,
he watered her with his seed,
He poured out his seed into Ninhursag's womb.
Ninhursag took into her womb a seed, the seed of Enki.
And one day is like a month.
Two of her days are like two months.
Its three days are like three months.
Four days is like four months.
Its five days are five months.
Its six days are six months.
Its seven days are seven months.
Eight days is eight months.
Nine days is nine months
Nine months of motherhood.
Like clockwork, like clockwork
By beautiful, delicate oil
Nintu, mother of the country,
Gave birth to Ninsar.
Ninsar grew on the banks of the river.
And Enki - he hid in the swamps, he hid in the swamps.
To his adviser Isimud he says this:
“Am I not going to kiss my dear maiden?
Shall I kiss my dear Ninsar?"
His adviser Isimud answers him like this:
“Dear maiden, kiss her!
Dear Ninsar, kiss her!
The lord will sail, I will rule,
He will float, I will rule!
He put his foot in the boat
And the other one has already touched solid ground.
He pressed her to his chest, he kissed her.
Enki poured his seed into her womb.
She took his seed, Enki's seed.
And one of her days is like a month,
And her second day is like two months.
Its nine days are nine months,
Nine months of motherhood.
Like clockwork, like clockwork
in the finest, most delicate oil,
Ninsar, like clockwork, like clockwork,
By the most delicate beautiful oil,
Ninkur gave birth.
Ninkur grew on the banks of the river.
And Enki - he hid in the swamps, he hid in the swamps.
To his adviser Isimud he says this:
“Shall I kiss my dear maiden?
Shall I kiss my dear Ninkur?"
His adviser Isimud answers him like this:
"Dear damsel, kiss her truly,
Dear Ninkur, truly kiss her!
The lord will sail, I will rule,
he will float, I will rule!
He put his foot in the boat
And the other one has already touched solid ground.
He pressed her to his chest, he kissed her.
Enki poured his seed into her womb.
She received a seed into her womb, the seed of Enki.
And one day is like a month.
Its nine days are like nine months,
Nine months of motherhood.
Like clockwork, like clockwork
By the most beautiful, delicate oil,
Ninkur, like clockwork,
in the finest, most delicate oil.
She gave birth to Utta, a strong fat woman.
Nintu addresses Uttu:
"I will give you advice, take my advice,
I will say my word, listen to my words!
Someone - he was hiding in the swamps, he was hiding in the swamps,
Enki - he hid in the swamps, he hid in the swamps"
About 15 lines were destroyed.
"Bring me some ripe cucumbers,
Bring me apricots in bunches,
Bring grapes in bunches.
Let him grab my bridle in the house,
The path of Enki will truly seize my bridle!"
And filled them with water twice,
He filled the ditches with water,
He filled the ditches with water,
Filled untouched lands with water.
The gardener is here, full of joy,
She rushed to his neck and hugged him.
“Who are you, who watered my garden?”
Enki answers the gardener:
Line 161 is destroyed.
"Bring me some ripe cucumbers,
Bring me apricots in bunches,
Bring grapes in bunches."
He brought ripe cucumbers,
He brought bunches of apricots,
He brought grapes in bunches, he filled his lap.
Enki turned his eyes green, took his staff,
Enki directed his steps towards Uttu.
He knocked on her house: “Open the doors!”
"Who is it, who is it here?"
“I am the gardener, I brought you cucumbers, apricots, and grapes!”
Uttu is full of joy, she opens the door for him.
Enki Uttu, strong fat one,
He gives her ripe cucumbers,
Gives apricots in bunches,
Produces grapes in clusters.
Gives her beer in large vessels.
Uttu, the sturdy fat woman, clasped her hands,
She clasped her hands in joy
Enki became drunk with joy when he saw Utta.
He took her breasts, he lay down on her bosom.
He touched her thighs, he touched them with his hand.
He grabbed her breast, he lay down on her bosom.
He put the root into the girl, he kissed her.
Enki poured his seed into Uttu, into her womb.
She took the seed into her womb, the seed of Enki!
Uttu, beautiful woman, “O my thighs, O my body,
O my womb!" - screams!
Ninhursag wiped the seed from her thighs.
The "forest grass" has grown.
"Honey grass" has grown.
The "garden grass" has grown.
The "seed grass" has grown.
The "prickly grass" has grown.
"The grass is thick" has grown.
The "grass is tall" has grown.
The “healing herb” has grown.
And Enki hid in the swamps, he hid in the swamps.
To his adviser Isimud he says this:
“Herbs, won’t I decide their fate?
What is this, what is this?"
His adviser Isimud answers him like this:
“My lord, this is the grass of the forest,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is honey grass,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is “garden grass”,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is “seed grass”,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is “thorny grass”,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is “thick grass”,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
“My lord, this is “high grass”,” he says.
He cuts it off for him, and he eats it.
Enki decided the fate of the plants; he knew their heart.
Ninhursag cursed Enki's name.
"I won't look at him with the eyes of my life
Until his death!"
The Anunnaki sat down in the dust.
The fox was there alone, so she said to Enlil:
"If I return Ninhursag to you,
What will you give me as a reward?"
Enlil answers the fox:
"If you give me back Ninhursag,
In my city I will plant a tree for you,
Let your name be glorified!"
And so the fox cleaned its skin,
Tail, fluffed up her hairs,
She put blush on her face.
Lines 229-232 are destroyed.
"I went to Enlil, but Enlil did not help me. *
I went to Nanna, but Nanna didn’t help me.
I went to Utu, but Utu did not help me.
I went to Inanna, but Inanna did not help me."
Lines 237-244 are destroyed.
Ninhursag rushed...
The Anunnaki grabbed their robes.
...they did.
...the fate was decided.
Enki placed Ninhursag on her womb.
“My brother, what hurts you?”
“The top of my head hurts.”
"Abau - the father of plants will be born for you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"The roots of my hair hurt."
"Ninsikila - the lord of hair will be born for you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My nose hurts."
"Ninkirutu - the lady who gives birth to the nose will be born for you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My mouth hurts."
"Ninkasi - the lady who fills your mouth will be born for you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My throat hurts."
"Nazi - the one who keeps her throat in order will be born for you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My hand hurts."
"Azimuah - the one who raises a kind hand will be born to you."
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My rib hurts."
“Ninti, the mistress of life-ribs, will be born to you.”
“My brother, what hurts you?”
"My sides hurt."
"Enshag - the ruler of the good side will be born to you."
“For these little ones that I gave birth to, you determine their destinies.”
"Let Abau become the lord of plants.
Let Ninsikila be Mr. Magana!
Let Ninkirut become Ninazu's wife.
Let Ninkasi satisfy desire.
Let Nazi be the wife of Umundar.
May Azimua become Ningishzida's wife!
Ninti will become the mistress of the months.
Enshag will be the master of Dilmun!"
Father Enki, praise be to you!
Translation by V. K. Afanasyeva
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru