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Tridalam Trigunakaram

Tridalam Trigunakaram in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During Shiva puja; especially Mondays, Pradosh, Shravan and Maha Shivaratri·📜 Bilvashtakam, verse 1 (traditional Shaiva stotra)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the famous opening verse of the Bilvashtakam, recited while offering bilva (bel) leaves to the Shiva Linga. It sees in the three-lobed bilva leaf the three gunas, Shiva's three eyes and the trident's three prongs, and declares it the destroyer of the sins of three lifetimes — ending with the refrain 'Ekabilvam Shivarpanam' (this one bilva leaf I offer to Shiva).

Origin & Story

Bilvashtakam, verse 1 (traditional Shaiva stotra) · Traditional (attributed in the Shaiva canon) · Ancient / medieval

This is the first stanza of the Bilvashtaka, the 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 three-lobed bilva leaf offered with love, and that such an offering destroys the sins of three lifetimes.

✦ As told in scripture

The Shiva Purana abounds with stories of devotees — even an unknowing hunter — who attained liberation merely by letting bilva leaves fall upon a Shiva Linga through the night. This opening verse of the Bilvashtaka enshrines that promise: one humble three-lobed leaf, offered with devotion, dissolves the sins of three births.

The Mantra

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Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham Trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:Three leaves in one, embodying the three gunas, like the three eyes and the three weapons of Shiva, the destroyer of the sins of three births — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Tridalam🔊The three-lobed (bilva / bel) leaf
Trigunakaram🔊Embodying the form of the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)
Trinetram🔊Like the three eyes of Shiva
Cha🔊And
Triyayudham🔊Like the three weapons (the trident's three prongs)
Trijanma🔊Three births / three lifetimes
Papa🔊Sin
Samharam🔊Destroyer, that which destroys
Ekabilvam🔊This single bilva (bel) leaf
Shivarpanam🔊I offer to Lord Shiva

Benefits of Chanting Tridalam Trigunakaram

✦

The iconic first verse of the Bilvashtakam, recited while offering a bilva (bel) leaf to the Shiva Linga

✦

Each bilva leaf offered with this verse is said to wash away the sins of three lifetimes (trijanma papa)

✦

Reveals the deep symbolism of the three-lobed leaf — the three gunas, three eyes and trident of Shiva

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Short and easy to chant during daily Shiva puja and abhishekam

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Especially powerful in the month of Shravan, on Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivaratri

✦

Pleases Bholenath, who is delighted by even a single leaf offered with love

How to Chant Tridalam Trigunakaram

Repetitions1times
Best TimeDuring Shiva puja; especially Mondays, Pradosh, Shravan and Maha Shivaratri

Recite this verse while offering a fresh, unbroken three-lobed bilva (bel) leaf to a Shiva Linga, placing the smooth side of the leaf against the Linga. Offer with water and a calm, devoted mind, ending with 'Om Namah Shivaya'. It may be chanted alone with each leaf or as the opening of the full Bilvashtakam.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Tridalam Trigunakaram written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
It describes the three-lobed bilva (bel) leaf: 'tridalam' (three leaves in one), 'trigunakaram' (embodying the three gunas), 'trinetram' (like Shiva's three eyes) and 'triyayudham' (like the three prongs of the trident). The verse offers this leaf to Shiva to destroy the sins of three births.
It is the opening verse of the Bilvashtakam, an eight-verse hymn recited while offering bilva leaves to Lord Shiva. Every verse ends with the refrain 'Ekabilvam Shivarpanam' — 'this one bilva leaf I offer to Shiva'.
Its three lobes are seen as Shiva's three eyes, the three prongs of his trident and the three gunas. The Bilvashtakam says the leaf's root is Brahma, its middle Vishnu and its tip Shiva, making it supremely auspicious to offer.
During Shiva worship and abhishekam, and especially on Mondays, during Pradosh, throughout the holy month of Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.

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