Bilvashtakam Meaning — Line by Line
बिल्वाष्टकम्
Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi
Meaning — Line by Line
Every verse of Bilvashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.
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- Verse 1. Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham
- Verse 2. Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchhidraih komalaih shubhaih
- Verse 3. Akhanda bilva patrena pujite nandikeshvare
- Verse 4. Shaligrama shilamekam vipranam jatu charpayet
- Verse 5. Dantikoti sahasrani vajapeya shatani cha
- Verse 6. Lakshmyastanuta utpannam mahadevasya cha priyam
- Verse 7. Darshanam bilvavrikshasya sparshanam papanashanam
- Verse 8. Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam
- Verse 9. Mulato brahmarupaya madhyato vishnurupine
- Verse 10. Bilvashtakamidam punyam yah pathet shivasannidhau
Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् । त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १॥
Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham Trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningThree leaves in one, three-fold in nature (the three gunas), like the three eyes and three weapons of Shiva, the destroyer of the sins of three births — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchhidraih komalaih shubhaih
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च ह्यच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः । शिवपूजां करिष्यामि ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ २॥
Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchhidraih komalaih shubhaih Shivapujam karishyami hyekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningWith three-lobed bilva leaves, whole, soft and auspicious, I shall perform the worship of Shiva — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Akhanda bilva patrena pujite nandikeshvare
अखण्ड बिल्व पत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे । शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ३॥
Akhanda bilva patrena pujite nandikeshvare Shuddhyanti sarvapapebhyo hyekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningWhen Nandikeshvara (Shiva) is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, one is cleansed of all sins — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Shaligrama shilamekam vipranam jatu charpayet
शालिग्राम शिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु चार्पयेत् । सोमयज्ञ महापुण्यं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ४॥
Shaligrama shilamekam vipranam jatu charpayet Somayajna mahapunyam ekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningEqual in merit to gifting a shaligrama stone to the brahmins, and to the great merit of a Soma sacrifice — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Dantikoti sahasrani vajapeya shatani cha
दन्तिकोटि सहस्राणि वाजपेय शतानि च । कोटिकन्या महादानं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ५॥
Dantikoti sahasrani vajapeya shatani cha Kotikanya mahadanam ekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningEqual to gifting a thousand crore elephants, a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, and the great gift of a crore maidens in marriage — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Lakshmyastanuta utpannam mahadevasya cha priyam
लक्ष्म्यास्तनुत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम् । बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ६॥
Lakshmyastanuta utpannam mahadevasya cha priyam Bilvavriksham prayachchhami hyekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningBorn from the body of Goddess Lakshmi and most dear to Mahadeva, I present this bilva tree — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Darshanam bilvavrikshasya sparshanam papanashanam
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् । अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ७॥
Darshanam bilvavrikshasya sparshanam papanashanam Aghorapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningThe very sight of the bilva tree, and its touch, destroy sin; it destroys even the gravest (aghora) sins — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam
काशीक्षेत्रनिवासं च कालभैरवदर्शनम् । प्रयागमाधवं दृष्ट्वा ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam Prayagamadhavam drishtva hyekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningIt grants residence in holy Kashi, the vision of Kala Bhairava, and the darshan of Madhava at Prayag — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Mulato brahmarupaya madhyato vishnurupine
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे । अग्रतः शिवरूपाय ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ८॥
Mulato brahmarupaya madhyato vishnurupine Agratah shivarupaya hyekabilvam shivarpanam
MeaningAt its root is the form of Brahma, in its middle the form of Vishnu, and at its tip the form of Shiva — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Bilvashtakamidam punyam yah pathet shivasannidhau
बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ । सर्वपाप विनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् ॥
Bilvashtakamidam punyam yah pathet shivasannidhau Sarvapapa vinirmuktah shivalokamavapnuyat
MeaningWhoever recites this holy Bilvashtaka in the presence of Shiva is freed from every sin and attains the abode of Shiva (Shivaloka).
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Origin & History
Source: Traditional Shaiva stotra
Author: Traditional (attributed in the Shaiva canon)
Period: Ancient / medieval
The Bilvashtaka is a traditional hymn recited during the offering of bilva (bel) leaves — the foremost leaf in Shiva worship. It celebrates a belief found across the Puranas: that Shiva, the simplest of gods to please (Bholenath), is delighted by even a single bilva leaf offered with love, granting in return blessings far beyond the costliest sacrifice.
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