Atharva Veda 5.21

vihṛdayaṃ vaimanasyaṃ vadāmitreṣu dundubhe vidveṣaṃ kaśmaśaṃ bhayam amitreṣu ni dadhmasy ava enān dundubhe jahi

To the war-drum

Division of hearts, division of minds speak thou among our enemies, O drum; mutual hate, confusion, fear, we put into our enemies: smite them down, O drum.

udvepamānā manasā cakṣuṣā hṛdayena ca dhāvantu bibhyato 'mitrāḥ pratrāsenājye hute

Quaking with mind, with sight, and with heart, let our enemies run fearing with alarm (pratrāsá) when the sacrificial butter is offered.

vānaspatyaḥ saṃbhṛta usriyābhir viśvagotryaḥ pratrāsam amitrebhyo vadājyenābhighāritaḥ

Made of forest-tree, brought together with the ruddy [kine], belonging to all the families (-gotrá-), speak thou alarm for our enemies, being smeared with sacrificial butter.

yathā mṛgāḥ saṃvijanta āraṇyāḥ puruṣād adhi eva tvaṃ dundubhe 'mitrān abhi kranda pra trāsayātho cittāni mohaya

As the wild beasts of the forest are all in a tremble at man, so do thou, O drum, roar at [and] alarm our enemies, then confound their intents.

yathā vṛkād ajāvayo dhāvanti bahu bibhyatīḥ eva tvaṃ dundubhe 'mitrān abhi kranda pra trāsayātho cittāni mohaya

As the goats-and-sheep run greatly fearing the wolf, so do thou, O drum etc. etc.

yathā śyenāt patatriṇaḥ saṃvijante ahardivi siṃhasya stanathor yathā eva tvaṃ dundubhe 'mitrān abhi kranda pra trāsayātho cittāni mohaya

As the birds (patatrín) are all in a tremble at the falcon, day by day; as at the thundering of the lion, so do thou, O drum etc. etc.

parāmitrān dundubhinā hariṇasyājinena ca sarve devā atitrasan ye saṃgrāmasyeṣate

Away have all the gods alarmed our enemies by the drum and the skin of the gazelle—[the gods] who are masters of the host.

yair indraḥ prakrīḍate padghoṣaiś chāyayā saha tair amitrās trasantu no 'mī ye yanty anīkaśaḥ

With what foot-noises Indra plays together with shadow, by those let our enemies be alarmed who go yonder in troops (anīkaçás).

This verse is not included in this edition.

Let the drums, with bow-string noises, yell toward all (yā́s) the quarters—the armies of our enemies going conquered in troops.

This verse is not included in this edition.

O Āditya, take [away their] sight; ye beams, run after; let them that have foot-fastenings fasten on, the arm-power (-vīryà) being gone away.

yūyam ugrā marutaḥ pṛśnimātara indreṇa yujā pra mṛṇīta śatrūn somo rājā varuṇo rājā mahādeva uta mṛtyur indraḥ

Do ye [who are] formidable, O Maruts, sons of the spotted mother, with Indra as ally, slaughter our foes. King Soma, king Varuṇa, the great god, also Death, Indra—

etā devasenāḥ sūryaketavaḥ sacetasaḥ amitrān no jayantu svāhā

Let these armies of the gods, sun-bannered, accordant, conquer our enemies: hail!