Upon the broad face of the earth, a drum began to speak, its voice shining forth with clarity and power. It proclaimed to all, announcing the presence of the enemy’s army. Radiant and resounding, the drum spoke with true words, glorifying the moment and calling attention to the impending challenge. Its sound rose between earth and sky, echoing through the heavens, each reverberation a call to victory, as the thunderous drum roared aloud, forging fame and celebrating the friendship of the trumpet, uplifting the glory of heaven. Crafted with skill and purpose, the drum uttered its speech, stirring the weapons of the strong to readiness. It invoked mighty Indra for strength, summoned friends to gather, and drove away those who harbored enmity. Together with the clarion trumpet, the drum resounded, proclaiming boldly, leading the army with courage. It became the herald of the village, seeking what was best, knowing the right paths, and drawing forth fame for the two-kings from all directions. This drum, possessor of auspicious insight, was victorious in wealth and strength, an unconquerable force in battle, steadfast in sacred knowledge. Like a mountain pressing out Soma with a stone, the drum resounded with wisdom upon the battlefield. It became the destroyer of enemies, the breaker of hostile might, the seeker of cattle, enduring and ever-rising. Like the inspired speech of a mantra, it brought forth utterance for victory, raising its voice high for triumph in battle. Unshaken and unshakable, the drum was full of energy and swift in action, conquering foes and leading the charge. Ready for war and protected by Indra, skilled in assemblies and shining with inner light, it went forth for the destruction of enemies, seeking victory. With its mighty sound, the drum drove away heartache, confusion, and enmity among adversaries. Hatred, trembling, and fear were cast down among foes as the drum struck them down. The enemies, gripped by trembling minds, blinded in sight and heart, fled in terror, especially when the clarified butter was poured in sacrifice. Gathered from the forest, adorned with red cows, the drum—struck with clarified butter—instilled terror into the hearts of the enemy. Just as wild animals scatter before a man in the forest, so the drum cried out, driving away the enemies and confounding their minds. As sheep flee from a wolf, trembling greatly, so too did the drum’s voice send the enemies fleeing, their minds in disarray. And as birds scatter from a hawk, or flee at the lion’s roar in broad daylight, the drum’s cry drove the enemies away, further confounding their thoughts. The drum, together with the sacred deer skin, became a force to repel adversaries, even striking fear into the gods who stood on the side of battle. By the sounds of marching feet and shifting shadows—sounds that delighted Indra—the enemies were terrified, those who came in hostile ranks. The twang of bowstrings, joined by the drums, resounded in all directions, and the enemy armies, their ranks and order, were defeated and scattered. The Sun was invoked to grant clear sight, his rays sent forth to pursue the fleeing enemies, scattering their companions when their strength in arms was gone. The fierce Maruts, children of Prisni, together with Indra, struck down the foe, and Soma the king, Varuna the king, Mahadeva, and Death—all forms of mighty Indra—joined in the assault. The divine armies, banners of the Sun, conscious and aware, were invoked to conquer the enemies. Svaha! Then, prayers rose for healing and peace. Agni was asked to drive away fever, along with Soma, the stone, and Varuna of pure skill. The altar, the sacred grass, and the shining kindling were beseeched to remove all hatred far away. The fever, which burned and consumed like Agni, was commanded to become powerless, to diminish, to go downward or depart elsewhere. That fever, harsh and destructive, was to be driven away and cast down below. With reverence, it was sent downward to the craftsman, and the fist of Śakambhara was called to return to the great bulls. The fever’s abode was among the Mūjavas and the great bulls; as long as Takman was born, so long would it dwell among the Balhikas. Takman, along with snake, poison, and lameness, was urged to depart, to seek the afflicted slave woman and be delivered from her with the thunderbolt. Takman was sent to the Mūjavas or beyond, to the Balhikas, to seek the swollen Śūdra woman and be shaken out from her. The great bulls of the Mūjavas, kin who had gone away, were invoked as the words were spoken to Takman, or directed to other fields. Takman was told he would not find delight in another field, for he was obedient and showed no mercy here; he had become desired elsewhere and would go to the Balhikas. If cold, trembling, cough, and shivering threatened, Takman’s terrible causes were called to surround, but not harm. Companions, fever, cough, and agitation were not to be brought near again; Takman, with his brother Fever, sister Cough, and evil cousin, was sent to another mortal. The third, fourth, persistent, autumnal, cold, trembling, summer, and rainy forms of Takman were all to be destroyed. From the Gandharis, from the Mūjavas, from the Angas, from the Magadhas, Takman was dispatched as one sends a person to a storehouse. Finally, prayers were offered for protection against worms and unseen afflictions. Heaven and Earth, the goddess Sarasvati, Indra, and Agni were invoked for support, so that the worm might be subdued. Indra, lord of wealth, was called to strike down the worms, and all enemies were declared slain by the power of sacred speech. The worms that crept around the eyes or nose, those that entered the body, all were subdued. Some worms were alike in form, some different, some black, some red; the tawny, the tawny-eared, the vulture, and the heron—these were all struck down. Worms of pale bodies, black, pale-armed, and every form were subdued. The Sun went forth, seeing all, destroying both the seen and unseen, striking down all worms. Those that were white, rough, moving, or sharp-toothed—let the seen and unseen worms alike be slain. Thus, through the power of sacred sound, invocation, and the might of the gods, protection and victory were sought for all.