shivabilvashtakambilva-patrabel-leaf

𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Bilvashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During Shiva puja; especially Mondays, Pradosh, Shravan and Maha Shivaratri·🎵 Audio included·📜 Traditional Shaiva stotra

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Traditional Shaiva stotra · Traditional (attributed in the Shaiva canon) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

The Shiva Purana abounds with stories of devotees — even unknowing hunters — who attained liberation merely by letting bilva leaves fall upon a Shiva Linga through the night. The Bilvashtaka enshrines this promise: one humble leaf, offered with devotion, outweighs a thousand sacrifices and carries the soul to the abode of Shiva.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌦𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌚 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌧𑌮𑍍 । 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌸𑌂𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌏𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௧॥

Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham Trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:Three 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.

Verse 2

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌖𑍈𑌃 𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑍋𑌮𑌲𑍈𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌭𑍈𑌃 । 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨॥

Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchhidraih komalaih shubhaih Shivapujam karishyami hyekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:With three-lobed bilva leaves, whole, soft and auspicious, I shall perform the worship of Shiva — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.

Verse 3

𑌅𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡 𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵 𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍇 । 𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌪𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௩॥

Akhanda bilva patrena pujite nandikeshvare Shuddhyanti sarvapapebhyo hyekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:When Nandikeshvara (Shiva) is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, one is cleansed of all sins — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.

Verse 4

𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮 𑌶𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍 । 𑌸𑍋𑌮𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌏𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௪॥

Shaligrama shilamekam vipranam jatu charpayet Somayajna mahapunyam ekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:Equal 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.

Verse 5

𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿 𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌜𑌪𑍇𑌯 𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌿 𑌚 । 𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌏𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௫॥

Dantikoti sahasrani vajapeya shatani cha Kotikanya mahadanam ekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:Equal 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.

Verse 6

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌨𑍁𑌤 𑌉𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌚 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍 । 𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௬॥

Lakshmyastanuta utpannam mahadevasya cha priyam Bilvavriksham prayachchhami hyekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:Born from the body of Goddess Lakshmi and most dear to Mahadeva, I present this bilva tree — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.

Verse 7

𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑌂 𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌅𑌘𑍋𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌸𑌂𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌏𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௭॥

Darshanam bilvavrikshasya sparshanam papanashanam Aghorapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:The 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.

Verse 8

𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌂 𑌚 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌗𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌵𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥

Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam Prayagamadhavam drishtva hyekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:It 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.

Verse 9

𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌤𑍋 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌯 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌿𑌣𑍇 । 𑌅𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌯 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௮॥

Mulato brahmarupaya madhyato vishnurupine Agratah shivarupaya hyekabilvam shivarpanam

Meaning:At 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.

Verse 10

𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌤𑍍 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌧𑍗 । 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌪 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌮𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍 ॥

Bilvashtakamidam punyam yah pathet shivasannidhau Sarvapapa vinirmuktah shivalokamavapnuyat

Meaning:Whoever recites this holy Bilvashtaka in the presence of Shiva is freed from every sin and attains the abode of Shiva (Shivaloka).

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌏𑌕𑌬𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊Ekabilvam ShivarpanamThis single bilva (bel) leaf I offer to Shiva

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌦𑌲𑌂🔊TridalamThe three-lobed (bilva) leaf

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊TrigunakaramEmbodying the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂🔊TrinetramThe three eyes of Shiva

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌸𑌂𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊Trijanma-papa-samharamDestroyer of the sins of three births

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍇🔊NandikeshvareIn/to Nandikeshvara (Lord Shiva)

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊PapanashanamThe destroyer of sin

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊ShivalokamThe abode of Shiva

Benefits of Chanting Bilvashtakam

✦

Recited while offering bilva (bel) leaves to the Shiva Linga — each leaf is said to wash away the sins of three lifetimes.

✦

The Bilvashtaka declares that one bilva leaf offered to Shiva equals the merit of great sacrifices and immense charity.

✦

Even the sight and touch of the bilva tree destroy sin, including the gravest (aghora) sins.

✦

Promises residence in Kashi, the vision of Kala Bhairava, and ultimately the abode of Shiva (Shivaloka).

✦

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

✦

Short and easy to chant during daily Shiva puja and abhishekam.

How to Chant Bilvashtakam

Repetitions1times

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

FaceEast or North

Recite the Bilvashtaka while offering fresh, unbroken three-lobed bilva (bel) leaves to a Shiva Linga, one leaf with each verse if possible. Choose leaves that are whole, soft and free of holes, with the smooth side touching the Linga. Offer with water and a calm, devoted mind, ending with 'Om Namah Shivaya'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bilvashtakam written in the Grantha 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.

Bilvashtakam is an eight-verse hymn recited while offering bilva (bel) leaves to Lord Shiva. Each verse ends with 'Ekabilvam Shivarpanam' — 'this one bilva leaf I offer to Shiva' — and describes the immense merit of the offering.

The three-lobed bilva leaf represents Shiva's three eyes, his trident, and the three gunas. The Bilvashtaka says its root is Brahma, its middle Vishnu and its tip Shiva, making it supremely dear to Mahadeva.

It is chanted during Shiva worship, and is especially auspicious on Mondays, during Pradosh, throughout the holy month of Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.

The hymn declares that offering a single unbroken bilva leaf to Shiva cleanses the sins of three births and equals the merit of grand sacrifices and great charity, leading finally to Shivaloka.

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Om Namah Shivayaॐ नमः शिवाय Lingashtakamलिंगाष्टकम्Shiv Chalisaशिव चालीसा Shiva Rudra Ashtakamशिव रुद्राष्टकम्Mahamrityunjaya Mantraमहामृत्युंजय मंत्र Shiv Sahasranamaशिव सहस्रनाम

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Read the full Bilvashtakam with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts

Full Bilvashtakam (Devanagari)All Mantras Find by Purpose