Sukta 21

Mantra 1

शत्रुसेनात्रासनम्। विहृदयं वैमनस्यं वदामित्रेषु दुन्दुभे । विद्वेषं कश्मशं भयममित्रेषु नि दध्मस्यवैनान् दुन्दुभे जहि

Terror of the foeman’s host. Proclaim, O Drum, among the enemies, heart-dismay and disunion of mind. Set, among the enemies, hatred, confusion, fear; smite them down, O Drum—aye, smite these men.

Mantra 2

उद्वेपमाना मनसा चक्षुषा हृदयेन च । धावन्तु बिभ्यतोऽमित्राः प्रत्रासेनाज्ये हुते

Quaking forth with mind, with eye, and with the heart as well, let the enemies, in fear, run headlong—when, with terror as our power, the butter-offering is poured.

Mantra 3

वानस्पत्यः संभृत उस्रियाभिर्विश्वगोत्र्यः । प्रत्रासममित्रेभ्यो वदाज्येनाभिघारितः

Forest-born, well-framed, bound fast with cowhide, of power for every clan—sound forth, anointed with the butter, terror against the enemies.

Mantra 4

यथा मृगाः संविजन्त आरण्याः पुरुषादधि । एवा त्वं दुन्दुभेऽमित्रानभि क्रन्द प्र त्रासयाथो चित्तानि मोहय

As forest beasts are scattered in alarm at a man’s approach, so thou, O Drum—roar against the enemies; drive them forth in terror, and moreover bewilder their minds.

Mantra 5

यथा वृकादजावयो धावन्ति बहु बिभ्यतीः । एवा त्वं दुन्दुभेऽमित्रानभि क्रन्द प्र त्रासयाथो चित्तानि मोहय

As goats and sheep run far in terror from the wolf, so thou, O Drum—roar against the enemies; drive them forth in fear, and moreover bewilder their minds.

Mantra 6

यथा श्येनात् पतत्रिणः संविजन्ते अहर्दिवि सिंहस्य स्तनथोर्यथा । एवा त्वं दुन्दुभेऽमित्रानभि क्रन्द प्र त्रासयाथो चित्तानि मोहय

As, at the hawk, the winged creatures quiver together, day and night; as at the lion’s thunder-roar: even so, O Drum, cry against the foes; drive them forth in terror, and bewilder their minds.

Mantra 7

परामित्रान् दुन्दुभिना हरिणस्याजिनेन च । सर्वे देवा अतित्रसन् ये संग्रामस्येशते

Away with the foes—by the Drum, and by the antelope’s hide! All the Gods have trembled—those who bear dominion over battle.

Mantra 8

यैरिन्द्रः प्रक्रीडते पद्घोषैश्छायया सह। तैरमित्रास्त्रसन्तु नोऽमी ये यन्त्यनीकशः

By those wherewith Indra sports—by the din of marching feet, together with his shadow—by those same let the foes tremble for us, those yonder who advance in ordered ranks.

Mantra 9

ज्याघोषा दुन्दुभयो भि क्रोशन्तु या दिशः । सेनाः पराजिता यतीरमित्राणामनीकशः

Let bowstring-twangs and war-drums cry aloud against whatever quarters: the armies of the foes—defeated—going forth (in rout), troop by troop.

Mantra 10

आदित्य चक्षुरा दत्स्व मरीचयोऽनु धावत । पत्सङ्गिनीरा सजन्तु विगते बाहुवीर्येऽ

O Āditya, bestow hither sight; let the rays run on in pursuit. Let the foot-attending powers attach themselves to us, when the foe’s arm-might is gone away.

Mantra 11

यूयमुग्रा मरुतः पृश्निमातर इन्द्रेण युजा प्र मृणीत शत्रून्। सोमो राजा वरुणो राजा महादेव उत मृत्युरिन्द्रः

Ye, fierce Maruts, children of Pṛśni, yoked in fellowship with Indra, smite forth and crush the foes. Soma is King, Varuṇa is King; and Mahādeva also—yea, Death (itself) is Indra.

Mantra 12

एता देवसेनाः सूर्यकेतवः सचेतसः । अमित्रान् नो जयन्तु स्वाहा

These divine hosts, sun-bannered, of one consenting mind—let them conquer for us the unfriendly; svāhā!