Atharva Veda 5.20

uccairghoṣo dundubhiḥ satvanāyan vānaspatyaḥ saṃbhṛta usriyābhiḥ vācaṃ kṣuṇuvāno damayant sapatnānt siṃha iva jeṣyann abhi taṃstanīhi

To the war-drum

The loud-noised drum, warrior-like, of forest-tree, brought together (sámbhṛta) with the ruddy [kine], whetting the voice, dominating our rivals; thunder thou loudly against [them] like a lion, about to conquer.

siṃha ivāstānīd druvayo vibaddho 'bhikrandann ṛṣabho vāsitām iva vṛṣā tvaṃ vadhrayas te sapatnā aindras te śuṣmo abhimātiṣāhaḥ

Like a lion hath thundered the wooden one, stretched (vi-bandh), like a bull roaring at a longing cow; virile (vṛ́ṣan) [art] thou, impotent thy rivals; Indra-like [is] thy vehemence (çúṣma), overpowering hostile plotters.

vṛṣeva yūthe sahasā vidāno gavyann abhi ruva saṃdhanājit śucā vidhya hṛdayaṃ pareṣāṃ hitvā grāmān pracyutā yantu śatravaḥ

Found (vidāná) suddenly (sáhasā) like a bull in a herd, do thou, seeking kine, bellow (ru) at [them], winning booty; pierce thou with pain the heart of our adversaries; let our foes, leaving their villages, go urged forth (pra-cyu).

saṃjayan pṛtanā ūrdhvamāyur gṛhyā gṛhṇāno bahudhā vi cakṣva daivīṃ vācaṃ dundubha ā gurasva vedhāḥ śatrūṇām upa bharasva vedaḥ

Wholly conquering the fighters, shrill-crying, do thou, seizing those that are to be seized, look abroad on many sides; respond (? ā-gur), O drum, devout, to the voice of the gods; bring the possession of our foes.

dundubher vācaṃ prayatāṃ vadantīm āśṛṇvatī nāthitā ghoṣabuddhā nārī putraṃ dhāvatu hastagṛhyāmitrī bhītā samare vadhānām

Hearing the uttered (pra-yam) voice of the drum speaking, let the woman, suppliant, noise-wakened, run to her son, seizing his hand—our enemy, frightened in the conflict of deadly weapons.

pūrvo dundubhe pra vadāsi vācaṃ bhūmyāḥ pṛṣṭhe vada rocamānaḥ amitrasenām abhijañjabhāno dyumad vada dundubhe sūnṛtāvat

Mayest thou first (pū́rva), O drum, speak forth thy voice; on the back of earth speak thou, shining (ruc); opening wide the jaws (jabh) on the army of our enemies, speak thou clearly, O drum, pleasantly (sūnṛ́tāvat).

antareme nabhasī ghoṣo astu pṛthak te dhvanayo yantu śībham abhi kranda stanayotpipānaḥ ślokakṛn mitratūryāya svardhī

Let there be noise between these two firmaments (nábhas); severally let thy sounds (dhvaní) go swiftly; roar at [them], thunder, truculent (?), resounding (çlokakṛ́t) unto the victory of our friends, a good partizan.

dhībhiḥ kṛtaḥ pra vadāti vācam ud dharṣaya satvanām āyudhāni indramedī satvano ni hvayasva mitrair amitrāṁ ava jaṅghanīhi

Made by devices (dhī́), may it speak forth its voice; excite thou the weapons of the warriors; allied with Indra, call in the warriors; by friends smite mightily down the enemies.

saṃkrandanaḥ pravado dhṛṣṇuṣeṇaḥ pravedakṛd bahudhā grāmaghoṣī śriyo vanvano vayunāni vidvān kīrtim bahubhyo vi hara dvirāje

A vociferating herald (? pravadá), with bold army, making proclaim in many places, sounding through the villages, winning advantage, knowing the ways, do thou distribute (vi-hṛ) fame to many in the [battle] of two kings.

śreyaḥketo vasujit sahīyānt saṃgrāmajit saṃśito brahmaṇāsi aṃśūn iva grāvādhiṣavaṇe adrir gavyan dundubhe'dhi nṛtya vedaḥ

Aiming at advantage, conquering good things, very powerful, conquering a host, thou art sharpened by bráhman; as the pressing-stone on the [soma-] stalks in the press, do thou, O drum, dance on [their] possession, seeking booty (gavyán).

śatrūṣāṇ nīṣād abhimātiṣāho gaveṣaṇaḥ sahamāna udbhit vāgvīva mantraṃ pra bharasva vācam sāṃgrāmajityāyeṣam ud vadeha

Overpowering foes, overpowering and putting down, overpowering hostile plotters, seeking kine, overpowering, up-shooting, bring forth thy voice as a speaker (vāgvín) his discourse (mántra); speak up force (? íṣ) here in order to the conquering of the host.

acyutacyut samado gamiṣṭho mṛdho jetā puraetāyodhyaḥ indreṇa gupto vidathā nicikyaddhṛddyotano dviṣatāṃ yāhi śībham

Stirring (cyu) the unstirred, going oftenest into contests, conquering scorners, going in front, unsubduable, made safe by Indra, noting counsels (? vidátha), burning the hearts of our adversaries, go thou quickly.