Atharvaveda Samhita — Kanda 5 — Chapter 20

AV 5 20.1

उच्चैर्घोषो दुन्दुभिः सत्वनायन् वानस्पत्यः संभृत उसृइयाभिः । वाचं क्षुणुवानो दमयन्त् सपत्नान्त् सिंह इव जेष्यन्न् अभि तंस्तनीहि

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

Loud-voiced is the drum, playing the warrior, made of forest wood, put together with cow-hides; whetting its voice, subduing the rivals, like a lion about to win, thunder against them!

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 5 20.2

सिंह इवास्तानीद् द्रुवयो विबद्धो ऽभिक्रन्दन्न् ऋषभो वासिताम् इव । वृषा त्वं वध्रयस् ते सपत्ना ऐन्द्रस् ते शुष्मो अभिमातिषाहः

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

Like a lion it has roared out, the wooden one, bound fast, bellowing like a bull at a cow in heat. You are a bull; your rivals are gelded; yours is Indra's rushing force, overcoming assaults.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.3

वृषेव यूथे सहसा विदानो गव्यन्न् अभि रुव संधनाजित् । शुचा विध्य हृदयं परेषां हित्वा ग्रामान् प्रच्युता यन्तु शत्रवः

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

Like a bull in the herd, showing himself with might, roar out, lusting for cattle, winner of the contested prize; pierce the heart of the others with burning pain; leaving their villages let the enemies go, dislodged.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 5 20.4

संजयन् पृतना ऊर्ध्वमायुर् गृह्या गृह्णानो बहुधा वि चक्ष्व । दैवीं वाचं दुन्दुभ आ गुरस्व वेधाः शत्रूणाम् उप भरस्व वेदः

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

Conquering the hosts, with life held high, seizing what is to be seized, look out in many directions; take up the divine voice, O drum; as an ordainer, bring here the property of the enemies.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.5

दुन्दुभेर् वाचं प्रयतां वदन्तीम् आशृण्वती नाथिता घोषबुद्धा । नारी पुत्रं धावतु हस्तगृह्यामित्री भीता समरे वधानाम्

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

Hearing the drum's voice as it is sent forth and speaks, distressed, awakened by the din, let the woman, the enemy's wife, run to her son, taking (him) by the hand, frightened at the clash of weapons.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 5 20.6

पूर्वो दुन्दुभे प्र वदासि वाचं भूम्याः पृष्ठे वद रोचमानः । अमित्रसेनाम् अभिजञ्जभानो द्युमद् वद दुन्दुभे सूनृतावत्

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

As the first, O drum, may you utter your voice; speak out shining upon the back of the earth; snapping at the army of the foe, speak brightly, O drum, and bountifully.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 5 20.7

अन्तरेमे नभसी घोषो अस्तु पृथक् ते ध्वनयो यन्तु शीभम् । अभि क्रन्द स्तनयोत्पिपानः श्लोककृन् मित्रतूर्याय स्वर्धी

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

Let the din be between these two firmaments; let your sounds go apart swiftly; roar, thunder, swelling up, maker of song, prospering well for the overpowering (of foes) together with allies.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.8

धीभिः कृतः प्र वदाति वाचम् उद् धर्षय सत्वनाम् आयुधानि । इन्द्रमेदी सत्वनो नि ह्वयस्व मित्रैर् अमित्राꣳ अव जङ्घनीहि

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

Made by (skilled) arts, let it utter its voice; rouse up the weapons of the warriors; allied with Indra, call the warriors to yourself; with your friends beat down the foes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 5 20.9

संक्रन्दनः प्रवदो धृष्णुषेणः प्रवेदकृद् बहुधा ग्रामघोषी । श्रियो वन्वनो वयुनानि विद्वान् कीर्तिम् बहुभ्यो वि हर द्विराजे

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

Roaring out, speaking forth, having a bold army, making proclamation, sounding through the villages in many ways; winning splendours, knowing the marks (of things), distribute fame to the many in the contest of two kings.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.10

श्रेयःकेतो वसुजित् सहीयान्त् संग्रामजित् संशितो ब्रह्मणासि । अंशून् इव ग्रावाधिषवणे अद्रिर् गव्यन् दुन्दुभेऽधि नृत्य वेदः

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

Of superior signal, conqueror of wealth, more powerful, winner of the battle, whetted by the sacred formula are you; as the pressing-stone (crushes) the stalks upon the pressing-board, so, lusting for cattle, O drum, dance upon the (enemies') property.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.11

शत्रूषाण् नीषाद् अभिमातिषाहो गवेषणः सहमान उद्भित् । वाग्वीव मन्त्रं प्र भरस्व वाचम् सांग्रामजित्यायेषम् उद् वदेह

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

Overpowerer of foes, subduer, overcomer of assailants, seeker of cattle, prevailing, breaking forth: like an eloquent (speaker) bring forth the formula, the voice; speak up here refreshment for the winning of battles.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 5 20.12

अच्युतच्युत् समदो गमिष्ठो मृधो जेता पुरएतायोध्यः । इन्द्रेण गुप्तो विदथा निचिक्यद् धृद्द्योतनो द्विषतां याहि शीभम्

acyutacyut samado gamiṣṭho mṛdho jetā puraetāyodhyaḥ | indreṇa gupto vidathā nicikyad dhṛddyotano dviṣatāṃ yāhi śībham

Shaker of the unshaken, most ready to go to the fights, conqueror of the battles, going in front, not to be fought against; guarded by Indra, discerning the assemblies, burning the hearts of those who hate (us) — go swiftly.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain