श्री बिल्वाष्टकम्

Selected reading version. Scope and sources

आठ बिल्वपत्र-श्लोक

श्लोक 1–8: हर श्लोक बिल्वपत्र या बिल्ववृक्ष की महिमा बताकर ‘बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्’ पर समाप्त होता है।

Shloka 1

त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रयायुधम्।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Tridalaṃ Triguṇākāraṃ Trinetraṃ Ca Trayāyudham |
Trijanmapāpasaṃhāraṃ Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: Three-leaved, shaped like the three gunas, (like) the three eyes and the three weapons, and destroying the sins of three births—so the verse describes the leaf. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: तीन दलों वाला, तीन गुणों के आकार का, (शिव के) तीन नेत्रों और तीन आयुधों जैसा, तथा तीन जन्मों के पापों का संहार करने वाला—श्लोक बिल्वपत्र का ऐसा वर्णन करता है। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Teen dalon wala, teen gunon ke aakar ka, (Shiv ke) teen netron aur teen aayudhon jaisa, tatha teen janmon ke paapon ka sanhar karne wala—shlok bilvapatra ka aisa varnan karta hai. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 2

त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च ह्यच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः।
शिवपूजां करिष्यामि बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Triśākhairbilvapatraiśca Hyacchidraiḥ Komalaiḥ Śubhaiḥ |
Śivapūjāṃ Kariṣyāmi Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: With three-branched bilva leaves, unbroken, tender and auspicious, I shall perform the worship of Shiva. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: तीन शाखाओं वाले, बिना छिद्र के, कोमल और शुभ बिल्वपत्रों से मैं शिव की पूजा करूँगा। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Teen shakhaon wale, bina chhidra ke, komal aur shubh bilvapatron se main Shiv ki pooja karoonga. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 3

अखण्डबिल्वपत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे।
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Akhaṇḍabilvapatreṇa Pūjite Nandikeśvare |
Śuddhyanti Sarvapāpebhyo Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: When Nandikeshvara (Shiva) is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, the verse says, people are cleansed of all sins. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: श्लोक कहता है कि अखण्ड बिल्वपत्र से नन्दिकेश्वर (शिव) की पूजा करने पर लोग सब पापों से शुद्ध हो जाते हैं। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Shlok kehta hai ki akhand bilvapatra se Nandikeshvar (Shiv) ki pooja karne par log sab paapon se shuddh ho jate hain. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 4

शालग्रामशिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु अर्पयेत्।
सोमयज्ञमहापुण्यं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Śālagrāmaśilāmekāṃ Viprāṇāṃ Jātu Arpayet |
Somayajñamahāpuṇyaṃ Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: Should one ever give a single Shalagrama stone to brahmins, and the great merit of a Soma sacrifice: the verse sets such traditional merit beside the offering of a bilva leaf. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: यदि कोई कभी ब्राह्मणों को एक शालग्राम-शिला अर्पित करे, और सोमयज्ञ का महान पुण्य: श्लोक ऐसे परम्परागत पुण्य को बिल्वपत्र के अर्पण के समान बताता है। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Yadi koi kabhi brahmanon ko ek shalagram-shila arpit kare, aur somayajna ka mahan punya: shlok aise paramparagat punya ko bilvapatra ke arpan ke samaan batata hai. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 5

दन्तिकोटिसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च।
कोटिकन्यामहादानं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Dantikoṭisahasrāṇi Vājapeyaśatāni Ca |
Koṭikanyāmahādānaṃ Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: Thousands of crores of elephants, hundreds of Vajapeya sacrifices, the great gift of crores of maidens in marriage (kanyadaan): the verse sets these traditional gifts and rites beside a single bilva leaf. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: हज़ारों करोड़ हाथी, सैकड़ों वाजपेय यज्ञ, करोड़ों कन्याओं का महादान (कन्यादान): श्लोक इन परम्परागत दानों और यज्ञों को एक बिल्वपत्र के समान बताता है। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Hazaaron karod haathi, saikdon Vajapeya yajna, karodon kanyaon ka mahadaan (kanyadaan): shlok in paramparagat daanon aur yajnon ko ek bilvapatra ke samaan batata hai. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 6

लक्ष्म्याः स्तनत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम्।
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Lakṣmyāḥ Stanata Utpannaṃ Mahādevasya Ca Priyam |
Bilvavṛkṣaṃ Prayacchāmi Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: Born from Lakshmi's breast and dear to Mahadeva: I offer the bilva tree. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: लक्ष्मी के वक्षःस्थल से उत्पन्न और महादेव को प्रिय बिल्ववृक्ष मैं अर्पित करता हूँ। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Lakshmi ke vakshasthal se utpann aur Mahadev ko priya bilvavriksh main arpit karta hoon. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 7

दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम्।
अघोरपापसंहारं बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Darśanaṃ Bilvavṛkṣasya Sparśanaṃ Pāpanāśanam |
Aghorapāpasaṃhāraṃ Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: The sight of the bilva tree and its touch destroy sin, the verse says; it removes even terrible sins. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: श्लोक कहता है कि बिल्ववृक्ष का दर्शन और उसका स्पर्श पाप का नाश करते हैं; वह घोर पापों का भी संहार करता है। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Shlok kehta hai ki bilvavriksh ka darshan aur uska sparsh paap ka naash karte hain; vah ghor paapon ka bhi sanhar karta hai. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

Shloka 8

मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे।
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय बिल्वपत्रं शिवार्पणम्॥

Mūlato Brahmarūpāya Madhyato Viṣṇurūpiṇe |
Agrataḥ Śivarūpāya Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam ||

English meaning: To the one who is Brahma at the root, Vishnu in the middle and Shiva at the tip. Tradition reads this of the leaf itself: its base is Brahma, its middle Vishnu and its tip Shiva. (Refrain:) a bilva leaf, offered to Shiva.

हिंदी अर्थ: जो मूल में ब्रह्मा-रूप, मध्य में विष्णु-रूप और अग्र भाग में शिव-रूप हैं, उन्हें। परम्परा इसे बिल्वपत्र के बारे में पढ़ती है: उसका मूल भाग ब्रह्मा, मध्य भाग विष्णु और अग्र भाग शिव है। (टेक:) बिल्वपत्र शिव को अर्पित।

Roman Hindi meaning: Jo mool mein Brahma-roop, madhya mein Vishnu-roop aur agra bhaag mein Shiv-roop hain, unhein. Parampara ise bilvapatra ke baare mein padhti hai: uska mool bhaag Brahma, madhya bhaag Vishnu aur agra bhaag Shiv hai. (Tek:) bilvapatra Shiv ko arpit.

फलश्रुति और समापन

श्लोक 9: पाठ का परम्परागत फल, स्तोत्र का अपना कथन; अन्त में समापन-पंक्ति।

Shloka 9

बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात्॥

Bilvāṣṭakamidaṃ Puṇyaṃ Yaḥ Paṭhecchivasannidhau |
Sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ Śivalokamavāpnuyāt ||

English meaning: Phalashruti (the hymn's traditional closing claim): the verse says that whoever recites this holy Bilvashtakam in Shiva's presence, freed from all sins, would attain Shiva's world. Valkala reports this as the text's own statement, not as a promised outcome.

हिंदी अर्थ: फलश्रुति (स्तोत्र का परम्परागत समापन-कथन): यह श्लोक कहता है कि जो शिव के सान्निध्य में इस पुण्य बिल्वाष्टक का पाठ करता है, वह सब पापों से मुक्त होकर शिवलोक पाए। वाल्कला इसे स्तोत्र का अपना कथन मानकर प्रस्तुत करता है, किसी निश्चित परिणाम का वादा नहीं।

Roman Hindi meaning: Phalashruti (stotra ka paramparagat samapan-kathan): yeh shlok kehta hai ki jo Shiv ke sannidhya mein is punya Bilvashtak ka path karta hai, vah sab paapon se mukt hokar Shivlok paaye. Valkala ise stotra ka apna kathan maankar prastut karta hai, kisi nishchit parinaam ka vaada nahin.

Colophon

इति बिल्वाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम्॥

Iti Bilvāṣṭakaṃ Sampūrṇam ||

English meaning: Here the Bilvashtakam is complete. This closing line is not a numbered verse.

हिंदी अर्थ: यहाँ बिल्वाष्टक पूरा होता है। यह समापन पंक्ति कोई क्रमांकित श्लोक नहीं है।

Roman Hindi meaning: Yahaan Bilvashtak poora hota hai. Yeh samaapan pankti koi kramaankit shlok nahin hai.

What is Shri Bilvashtakam?

Bilvashtakam is a short Sanskrit hymn whose eight stanzas praise the three-part bilva leaf and each end “bilvapatraṃ śivārpaṇam”, a bilva leaf offered to Shiva. A ninth verse, the phalashruti, states the traditional fruit of reciting it; that is the hymn’s own claim, not a promised outcome. The printed source names no author; the hymn is popularly linked with Adi Shankaracharya.

The bilva leaf

The first stanza describes the three-part bilva leaf as shaped like the three gunas, like Shiva's three eyes and his three weapons. Later stanzas call the bilva tree dear to Mahadeva and born from Lakshmi, and read its root, middle and tip as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

The refrain

Each of the eight stanzas ends “Bilvapatraṃ Śivārpaṇam”, a bilva leaf offered to Shiva. Many people recite the refrain as “Ekabilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam”, one bilva leaf offered to Shiva, which is how it appears in several other versions.

Merit claims

Stanzas 3–5 and 7 and the closing phalashruti set gifts, sacrifices and sins removed beside the offering of a bilva leaf. These are the hymn's own traditional statements, and Valkala reports them as such, not as guaranteed results or recommendations.

Which version this is

Bilvashtakam circulates in several different versions. This page follows the eight-stanza text with the phalashruti printed by Gita Press in its Shiva Stotra Ratnakar. Versions with verses on Kashi and Kalabhairava or on Uma and Maheshvara, and the older Brihat Stotra Ratnakara text with a closing list of eight 'bilva' plants, are different recensions and are not mixed into this page.

Aids for reciting stotrams and ashtaks

These praise hymns are often recited seated before the deity, with incense and a mala at hand. Here are a few reviewed options.

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