Bilvashtakam
बिल्वाष्टकम्
Sanskrit
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रयायुधम् । त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
tridalaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinetraṃ ca trayāyudham | trijanmapāpasaṃhāraṃ bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
This bilva leaf, three-lobed, of the nature of the three gunas, of the nature of the three eyes, of the nature of the three weapons, and the destroyer of the sins of three births, I offer to Lord Shiva.
Deep Meaning
Three-lobed, of the nature of sattva, rajas and tamas, of the nature of the three eyes, sun, moon and fire, and of the three weapons, and destroyer of the sins of three births, this bilva leaf I offer to Lord Shiva.
Sanskrit
त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च ह्यच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः । शिवपूजां करिष्यामि बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
triśākhair bilvapatraiś ca hy acchidraiḥ komalaiḥ śubhaiḥ | śivapūjāṃ kariṣyāmi bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
With this unblemished, soft, three-leaved bilva leaf, which grants auspiciousness, I shall worship Lord Shiva. This bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Deep Meaning
With an unblemished, soft, three-leaved bilva leaf that grants auspiciousness, I shall worship Lord Shiva. This bilva leaf I offer to Shiva.
Sanskrit
अखण्डबिल्वपत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे । शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
akhaṇḍabilvapatreṇa pūjite nandikeśvare | śuddhyanti sarvapāpebhyo bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
By worshipping Lord Nandikeshwara with an unbroken bilva leaf, people become purified, freed from all sins. I offer this bilva leaf to Shiva.
Deep Meaning
When Lord Nandikeshwara is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, people are purified and freed from every sin. I offer this bilva leaf to Shiva.
Sanskrit
शालग्रामशिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु अर्पयेत् । सोमयज्ञमहापुण्यं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
śālagrāmaśilām ekāṃ viprāṇāṃ jātu arpayet | somayajñamahāpuṇyaṃ bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
May this offering of the bilva leaf to Lord Shiva, made by me, be as greatly meritorious as the gift of a shaligrama stone to Brahmins and as the performance of a Soma sacrifice.
Deep Meaning
May this offering of a bilva leaf which I have made to Lord Shiva become as greatly meritorious as giving a shaligrama stone to Brahmins and as performing a Soma sacrifice.
Sanskrit
दन्तिकोटिसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च । कोटिकन्यामहादानं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
dantikoṭisahasrāṇi vājapeyaśatāni ca | koṭikanyāmahādānaṃ bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
May this offering of the bilva leaf to Lord Shiva, made by me, be equal to the gift of thousands of millions of elephants, hundreds of Vajapeya sacrifices, and the great gift of millions of maidens.
Deep Meaning
May this offering of a bilva leaf become equal to the gift of thousands of millions of elephants, hundreds of Vajapeya sacrifices, and the great gift of millions of maidens.
Sanskrit
लक्ष्म्याः स्तनत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम् । बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
lakṣmyāḥ stanata utpannaṃ mahādevasya ca priyam | bilvavṛkṣaṃ prayacchāmi bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
I offer the bilva tree, which arose from the breast of Goddess Lakshmi, beloved of Vishnu, and which is exceedingly dear to Mahadeva; this bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Deep Meaning
Arisen from the breast of Goddess Lakshmi, beloved of Vishnu, and exceedingly dear to Mahadeva, I offer this bilva tree; this bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Sanskrit
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् । अघोरपापसंहारं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
darśanaṃ bilvavṛkṣasya sparśanaṃ pāpanāśanam | aghorapāpasaṃhāraṃ bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
The sight and the touch of the bilva tree destroy all sins and remove the gravest offences. This bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Deep Meaning
Seeing the bilva tree and touching it destroy sin, and remove offences against Shiva. This bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Sanskrit
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे । अग्रतः शिवरूपाय बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम् ॥
Transliteration
mūlato brahmarūpāya madhyato viṣṇurūpiṇe | agrataḥ śivarūpāya bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Translation
The base of the bilva leaf is of the nature of Brahma, its middle of the nature of Vishnu, and its tip of the nature of Shiva; such a bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Deep Meaning
Whose base is of the nature of Brahma, whose middle is of the nature of Vishnu, and whose tip is of the nature of Shiva, such a bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Sanskrit
बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् ॥
Transliteration
bilvāṣṭakam idaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhec chivasannidhau | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivalokam avāpnuyāt ||
Translation
Whoever recites this meritorious Bilvashtaka in the presence of Lord Shiva is freed from all sins and, in the end, attains Shivaloka.
Deep Meaning
Whoever recites this meritorious Bilvashtaka near Lord Shiva, freed from every sin, attains Shivaloka.