2 With Bow let us win kine, with Bow the battle, with Bow be victors in
our hot encounters.
The Bow brings grief and sorrow to the foeman: armed with the Bow
may we subdue all regions.
3 Close to his ear, as fain to speak, She presses, holding her well-loved
Friend in her embraces.
Strained on the Bow, She whispers like a woman—this Bowstring that
preserves us in the combat.4 These, meeting like a woman and her lover, bear, mother-like, their child
upon their bosom.
May the two Bow-ends, starting swift asunder, scatter, in unison, the foes
who hate us.5 With many a son, father of many daughters, He clangs and clashes as he
goes to battle.
Slung on the back, pouring his brood, the Quiver vanquishes all opposing
bands and armies.6 Upstanding in the Car the skillful Charioteer guides his strong Horses
on whithersoe’er he will.
See and admire the strength of those controlling Reins which from
behind declare the will of him who drives.
7 Horses whose hoofs rain dust are neighing loudly, yoked to the Chariots,
showing forth their vigour,
With their forefeet descending on the foemen, they, never flinching,
trample and destroy them.
8 Car-bearer is the name of his oblation, whereon are laid his Weapons
and his Armour.
So let us here, each day that passes, honour the helpful Car with hearts
exceeding joyful.
9 In sweet association lived the fathers who gave us life, profound and strong
in trouble,Unwearied, armed with shafts and wondrous weapons, free, real heroes,
conquerors of armies.^8We have nothing like this from the millennium before chariots. Cuneiform and
hieroglyphic texts from the Age of Hammurabi and the ages that preceded it glorify
gods and kings, but not weapons and warriors.
112 Chariot warfare and militarism