Atharva Veda 5.21.1: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 1

Sukta 21

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

शत्रुसेनात्रासनम्। विहृ॑दयं वैमन॒स्यं वदा॒मित्रे॑षु दुन्दुभे । वि॒द्वे॒षं कश्म॑शं भ॒यम॒मित्रे॑षु॒ नि द॑ध्म॒स्यवैनान् दुन्दुभे जहि

IAST Transliteration

śatrusenātrāsanam | víhṛ́dayaṃ vaimanasyáṃ vadā́mitréṣu dundubhe | vidvéṣaṃ kásmaśaṃ bhayám amitréṣu ní dadhmasy áváinān dundubhe jahi

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

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.

Translation

Terror del ejército enemigo. Proclama, oh Tambor (dundubhi), entre los enemigos, el desmayo del corazón y la desunión de la mente. Pon entre los enemigos odio, confusión, miedo; abátelos, oh Tambor—sí, hiere a estos hombres.

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Word by Word

• शत्रुसेनात्रासनम्: (this) enemy-army-terror/repellent (charm)
• शत्रुसेनात्रासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु-सेना-त्रासन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)

• वि: apart, asunder, away
• वि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग)

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)

• वैमनस्यम्: ill-will, discord, enmity
• वैमनस्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैमनस्य (प्रातिपदिक; वि-मनस् + य)

• वदामि: I speak/utter
• वदामि: Kartā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (वदति)

• अमित्रेषु: among/against the foes
• अमित्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• दुन्दुभे: O drum (war-drum)
• दुन्दुभे: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)

• वि: apart, asunder
• वि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग)

• द्वेषम्: hatred
• द्वेषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)

• कश्मशम्: confusion/terror (kasmaśa-: panic, dismay)
• कश्मशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्मश (प्रातिपदिक)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)

• अमित्रेषु: among/against the foes
• अमित्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• नि: down, into, in
• नि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि (उपसर्ग)

• दध्मसि: you blow/drive (into)
• दध्मसि: Kartā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्मा (ध्माति) + नि

• अव: down, away
• अव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव (उपसर्ग)

• एनान्: these (persons)
• एनान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• दुन्दुभे: O drum
• दुन्दुभे: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)

• जहि: strike/kill!
• जहि: Kartā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (हन्ति)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic/Angiras-type attribution (martial abhicaric cluster; specific r̥ṣi varies by anukramaṇī tradition)

Devata: Dundubhi (personified drum) as operative agent; secondarily Bhaya/Trāsa as effected powers

Chandas: Predominantly Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (mixed/prose-like Atharvanic diction in places)

Mantra Rasa

Primary: raudra

Secondary: vira