Bilvashtakam
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् । त्रिजन्मपापसंहारम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.
What the Bilvashtakam is
The Bilvashtakam is addressed to Shiva solely through the medium of the bilva leaf, the trifoliate offering that Shaiva ritual treats as his most intimate vegetable body. Each verse ends with the declaration that a single bilva leaf is cast upon Shiva; the deity is therefore approached not as dancer, beggar or half-woman, but as the one who receives the cool, three-lobed leaf that mirrors his own three eyes and the three gunas. The hymn never leaves the bilva tree: the merit of offering its leaf, and of seeing and touching the tree, forms the entire horizon of praise. In this way the stotra isolates the botanical sacrament that distinguishes Shaiva puja from every other Hindu offering.
The Hunter’s Unknowing Vigil
The Shiva Purana and regional Skanda Purana recensions tell of a hunter who, on the night of Shivaratri, climbed a bilva tree to wait for deer to come and stayed awake until dawn. To keep himself alert he plucked leaves and dropped them one by one; unknown to him, a lingam stood at the foot of the tree and each leaf fell upon it. At daybreak the celestial attendants of Shiva appeared, declaring that the hunter had performed the complete night-long bilva offering without intent or mantra. The story is not about moral conversion but about the leaf itself: the bilva’s contact with the lingam outweighs knowledge, caste or deliberate ritual. The Bilvashtakam crystallizes that same conviction into eight verses, each insisting that one bilva leaf offered to Shiva constitutes the entire act of worship, echoing the hunter’s accidental yet perfect gift.
The mantra, in six scripts
- त्रिदलं
- tridalaṃ — three-lobed
- त्रिगुणाकारं
- triguṇākāraṃ — form of the three gunas
- त्रिनेत्रं
- trinetraṃ — three-eyed
- च
- ca — and
- त्रियायुधम्
- triyāyudham — having three weapons
- त्रिजन्म
- trijanma — of three births
- पाप
- pāpa — sin
- संहारम्
- saṃhāram — destruction
- एकबिल्वं
- ekabilvaṃ — one bilva leaf
- शिवार्पणम्
- śivārpaṇam — offering to Shiva
Bilvashtakam lyrics in full
All 9 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:
Download the Bilvashtakam PDFAll 9 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् ।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
த்ரிதலம் த்ரிகுணாகாரம் த்ரிநேத்ரம் ச த்ரியாயுதம் ।
த்ரிஜந்மபாபஸம்ஹாரம் ஏகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
త్రిదలం త్రిగుణాకారం త్రినేత్రం చ త్రియాయుధమ్ ।
త్రిజన్మపాపసంహారం ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ತ್ರಿದಲಂ ತ್ರಿಗುಣಾಕಾರಂ ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಂ ಚ ತ್ರಿಯಾಯುಧಮ್ ।
ತ್ರಿಜನ್ಮಪಾಪಸಂಹಾರಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ത്രിദലം ത്രിഗുണാകാരം ത്രിനേത്രം ച ത്രിയായുധമ് ।
ത്രിജന്മപാപസംഹാരം ഏകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
tridalaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinetraṃ ca triyāyudham |
trijanmapāpasaṃhāraṃ ekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
The three-leaved bilva mirrors the three gunas, Shiva's three eyes and his three weapons, and is said to remove the sins of three births. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च ह्यच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः ।
शिवपूजां करिष्यामि ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
த்ரிஶாகைர்பில்வபத்ரைஶ்ச ஹ்யச்சித்ரைஃ கோமலைஃ ஶுபைஃ ।
ஶிவபூஜாம் கரிஷ்யாமி ஹ்யேகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
త్రిశాఖైర్బిల్వపత్రైశ్చ హ్యచ్ఛిద్రైః కోమలైః శుభైః ।
శివపూజాం కరిష్యామి హ్యేకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ತ್ರಿಶಾಖೈರ್ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರೈಶ್ಚ ಹ್ಯಚ್ಛಿದ್ರೈಃ ಕೋಮಲೈಃ ಶುಭೈಃ ।
ಶಿವಪೂಜಾಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಹ್ಯೇಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ത്രിശാഖൈര്ബില്വപത്രൈശ്ച ഹ്യച്ഛിദ്രൈഃ കോമലൈഃ ശുഭൈഃ ।
ശിവപൂജാം കരിഷ്യാമി ഹ്യേകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
triśākhairbilvapatraiśca hyacchidraiḥ komalaiḥ śubhaiḥ |
śivapūjāṃ kariṣyāmi hyekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
With three-pronged bilva leaves, unbroken, tender and auspicious, I shall worship Shiva. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
अखण्डबिल्वपत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे ।
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
அகண்டபில்வபத்ரேண பூஜிதே நந்திகேஶ்வரே ।
ஶுத்த்யந்தி ஸர்வபாபேப்யோ ஹ்யேகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
అఖణ్డబిల్వపత్రేణ పూజితే నన్దికేశ్వరే ।
శుద్ధ్యన్తి సర్వపాపేభ్యో హ్యేకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ಅಖಣ್ಡಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರೇಣ ಪೂಜಿತೇ ನನ್ದಿಕೇಶ್ವರೇ ।
ಶುದ್ಧ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಸರ್ವಪಾಪೇಭ್ಯೋ ಹ್ಯೇಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
അഖണ്ഡബില്വപത്രേണ പൂജിതേ നന്ദികേശ്വരേ ।
ശുദ്ധ്യന്തി സര്വപാപേഭ്യോ ഹ്യേകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
akhaṇḍabilvapatreṇa pūjite nandikeśvare |
śuddhyanti sarvapāpebhyo hyekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
The verse says that when Nandikeshvara, the Lord of Nandi, is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, devotees are cleansed of all sins. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
शालिग्रामशिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु चार्पयेत् ।
सोमयज्ञमहापुण्यं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
ஶாலிக்ராமஶிலாமேகாம் விப்ராணாம் ஜாது சார்பயேத் ।
ஸோமயஜ்ஞமஹாபுண்யம் ஏகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
శాలిగ్రామశిలామేకాం విప్రాణాం జాతు చార్పయేత్ ।
సోమయజ్ఞమహాపుణ్యం ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ಶಾಲಿಗ್ರಾಮಶಿಲಾಮೇಕಾಂ ವಿಪ್ರಾಣಾಂ ಜಾತು ಚಾರ್ಪಯೇತ್ ।
ಸೋಮಯಜ್ಞಮಹಾಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ശാലിഗ്രാമശിലാമേകാം വിപ്രാണാം ജാതു ചാര്പയേത് ।
സോമയജ്ഞമഹാപുണ്യം ഏകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
śāligrāmaśilāmekāṃ viprāṇāṃ jātu cārpayet |
somayajñamahāpuṇyaṃ ekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
The verse likens the offering to giving a single Shaligrama stone to learned brahmins, and to the great merit of a Soma sacrifice. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
दन्तिकोटिसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च ।
कोटिकन्यामहादानं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
தந்திகோடிஸஹஸ்ராணி வாஜபேயஶதாநி ச ।
கோடிகந்யாமஹாதாநம் ஏகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
దన్తికోటిసహస్రాణి వాజపేయశతాని చ ।
కోటికన్యామహాదానం ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ದನ್ತಿಕೋಟಿಸಹಸ್ರಾಣಿ ವಾಜಪೇಯಶತಾನಿ ಚ ।
ಕೋಟಿಕನ್ಯಾಮಹಾದಾನಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ദന്തികോടിസഹസ്രാണി വാജപേയശതാനി ച ।
കോടികന്യാമഹാദാനം ഏകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
dantikoṭisahasrāṇi vājapeyaśatāni ca |
koṭikanyāmahādānaṃ ekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
The verse ranks the offering with the gift of countless thousands of elephants, a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, and the great gift of ten million daughters given in marriage. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
लक्ष्म्यास्तनुत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम् ।
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
லக்ஷ்ம்யாஸ்தநுத உத்பந்நம் மஹாதேவஸ்ய ச ப்ரியம் ।
பில்வவ்ருக்ஷம் ப்ரயச்சாமி ஹ்யேகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
లక్ష్మ్యాస్తనుత ఉత్పన్నం మహాదేవస్య చ ప్రియమ్ ।
బిల్వవృక్షం ప్రయచ్ఛామి హ్యేకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಸ್ತನುತ ಉತ್ಪನ್ನಂ ಮಹಾದೇವಸ್ಯ ಚ ಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ।
ಬಿಲ್ವವೃಕ್ಷಂ ಪ್ರಯಚ್ಛಾಮಿ ಹ್ಯೇಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ലക്ഷ്മ്യാസ്തനുത ഉത്പന്നം മഹാദേവസ്യ ച പ്രിയമ് ।
ബില്വവൃക്ഷം പ്രയച്ഛാമി ഹ്യേകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
lakṣmyāstanuta utpannaṃ mahādevasya ca priyam |
bilvavṛkṣaṃ prayacchāmi hyekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
I offer the bilva tree, born from the body of Lakshmi and dear to Mahadeva. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् ।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
தர்ஶநம் பில்வவ்ருக்ஷஸ்ய ஸ்பர்ஶநம் பாபநாஶநம் ।
அகோரபாபஸம்ஹாரம் ஏகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
దర్శనం బిల్వవృక్షస్య స్పర్శనం పాపనాశనమ్ ।
అఘోరపాపసంహారం ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ದರ್ಶನಂ ಬಿಲ್ವವೃಕ್ಷಸ್ಯ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶನಂ ಪಾಪನಾಶನಮ್ ।
ಅಘೋರಪಾಪಸಂಹಾರಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
ദര്ശനം ബില്വവൃക്ഷസ്യ സ്പര്ശനം പാപനാശനമ് ।
അഘോരപാപസംഹാരം ഏകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
darśanaṃ bilvavṛkṣasya sparśanaṃ pāpanāśanam |
aghorapāpasaṃhāraṃ ekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
Seeing the bilva tree and touching it are said to destroy sin, even the gravest sin. One bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे ।
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय ह्येकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥
மூலதோ ப்ரஹ்மரூபாய மத்யதோ விஷ்ணுரூபிணே ।
அக்ரதஃ ஶிவரூபாய ஹ்யேகபில்வம் ஶிவார்பணம் ॥
మూలతో బ్రహ్మరూపాయ మధ్యతో విష్ణురూపిణే ।
అగ్రతః శివరూపాయ హ్యేకబిల్వం శివార్పణమ్ ॥
ಮೂಲತೋ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮರೂಪಾಯ ಮಧ್ಯತೋ ವಿಷ್ಣುರೂಪಿಣೇ ।
ಅಗ್ರತಃ ಶಿವರೂಪಾಯ ಹ್ಯೇಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವಾರ್ಪಣಮ್ ॥
മൂലതോ ബ്രഹ്മരൂപായ മധ്യതോ വിഷ്ണുരൂപിണേ ।
അഗ്രതഃ ശിവരൂപായ ഹ്യേകബില്വം ശിവാര്പണമ് ॥
mūlato brahmarūpāya madhyato viṣṇurūpiṇe |
agrataḥ śivarūpāya hyekabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ||
To the one who is Brahma at the root, Vishnu in the middle and Shiva at the tip, one bilva leaf is offered to Shiva.
बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् ॥
பில்வாஷ்டகமிதம் புண்யம் யஃ படேச்சிவஸந்நிதௌ ।
ஸர்வபாபவிநிர்முக்தஃ ஶிவலோகமவாப்நுயாத் ॥
బిల్వాష్టకమిదం పుణ్యం యః పఠేచ్ఛివసన్నిధౌ ।
సర్వపాపవినిర్ముక్తః శివలోకమవాప్నుయాత్ ॥
ಬಿಲ್ವಾಷ್ಟಕಮಿದಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇಚ್ಛಿವಸನ್ನಿಧೌ ।
ಸರ್ವಪಾಪವಿನಿರ್ಮುಕ್ತಃ ಶಿವಲೋಕಮವಾಪ್ನುಯಾತ್ ॥
ബില്വാഷ്ടകമിദം പുണ്യം യഃ പഠേച്ഛിവസന്നിധൌ ।
സര്വപാപവിനിര്മുക്തഃ ശിവലോകമവാപ്നുയാത് ॥
bilvāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau |
sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivalokamavāpnuyāt ||
The closing verse says that whoever recites this sacred Bilvashtakam in Shiva's presence is freed from all sins and reaches Shiva's realm.
The syllable people get wrong
The word bilvaṃ is frequently heard as “bel-vam” with an open ‘e’ drawn from the Hindi fruit name bel; the first syllable must remain the short closed ‘i’ of bil-, the tongue high and forward, before the labial v is lightly touched.
When the Bilvashtakam is chanted
Weekday. Monday
Festival. Maha Shivaratri bilva-patra archana
Questions
Have your chart read before you decide
Chanting is yours to do, and free. But which deity your situation calls for — and whether a mantra alone is the right response — depends on your chart. Sometimes it is; sometimes it is not.
- Over 30 years in the Guru–Sishya Parampara, from the age of five
- He reads every chart himself — 60 minutes, one to one, never delegated
- Charts are read only between sunrise and sunset, following tradition