Listen to Bilvashtakam (Tridalam Trigunakaram) Audio & Video
Introduction to Bilvashtakam (శ్రీ బిల్వాష్టకం)
Bilvashtakam (బిల్వాష్టకం / बिल्वाष्टकम्) is one of the most revered and spiritually potent devotional hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva. Composed by the great philosopher-saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya, this holy hymn extols the unmatched sanctity of offering fresh, tender Bilva leaves (Bael leaves / Aegle marmelos) to the sacred Shiva Lingam.
The word Bilvashtakam is formed from two Sanskrit words: “Bilva” (the sacred wood apple / bael leaf) and “Ashtakam” (a hymn consisting of eight lyrical stanzas). According to sacred Hindu scriptures, including the Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, and Skanda Purana, the Bilva tree emerged from the divine drops of perspiration of Goddess Parvati (Goddess Girija), making every part of the tree imbued with divine shakti. Offering even a single trifoliate Bilva leaf with earnest devotion is proclaimed to be far superior to performing costly yagnas, pilgrimages, or gold donations.
The Sacred Meaning of “Tridalam Trigunakaram” (బిల్వ పత్ర విశిష్టత)
The very first verse of Bilvashtakam reveals the cosmic philosophy embedded within a humble three-leaflet Bilva leaf:
- Tridalam (Three Leaflets): Represents the Holy Trinity – Lord Brahma (the Creator), Lord Vishnu (the Preserver), and Lord Shiva (the Destroyer/Regenerator).
- Trigunakaram (Three Gunas): Symbolizes the three fundamental qualities of cosmic nature – Sattva (purity and knowledge), Rajas (activity and passion), and Tamas (darkness and inertia). When devotees offer the leaf, they symbolically surrender their lower qualities at the feet of Lord Shiva.
- Trinetram (Three Eyes): Represents Lord Shiva’s divine three eyes – the Sun (Surya), the Moon (Chandra), and the Cosmic Fire (Agni).
- Triyayudham (Threefold Weapon): Signifies the sacred Trishula (Trident), which cuts through the three types of miseries (Adhyatmika, Adhidaivika, Adhibhautika).
- Trijanma Papa Samharam: Sincere worship with Bilva destroys the accumulated karmic transgressions committed across three past lifetimes.
Bilvashtakam Lyrics in Telugu (బిల్వాష్టకం స్తోత్రం – తెలుగు లిపి)
క్రింద శ్రీ బిల్వాష్టకం స్తోత్రము యొక్క పూర్తి శ్లోకాలు తెలుగు లిపిలో ఇవ్వబడ్డాయి:
త్రిదళం త్రిగుణాకారం త్రినేత్రం చ త్రియాయుధం ।
త్రిజన్మ పాపసంహారమ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 1 ॥
త్రిశాఖైః బిల్వపత్రైశ్చ అచ్చిద్రైః కోమలైః శుభైః ।
తవ పూజాం కరిష్యామి ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 2 ॥
కోటి కన్యా మహాదానం తిలపర్వత కోటయః ।
కాంచనం క్షీరదానేన ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 3 ॥
కాశీక్షేత్ర నివాసం చ కాలభైరవ దర్శనం ।
ప్రయాగే మాధవం దృష్ట్వా ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 4 ॥
ఇందువారే వ్రతం స్థిత్వా నిరాహారో మహేశ్వరాః ।
నక్తం భోక్ష్యామి దేవేశ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 5 ॥
రామలింగ ప్రతిష్ఠా చ వైవాహిక కృతం తథా ।
తటాకానిచ సంధానమ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 6 ॥
అఖండ బిల్వపత్రం చ ఆయుతం శివపూజనం ।
కృతం నామ సహస్రేణ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 7 ॥
ఉమయా సహ దేవేశ నందివాహనమేవ చ ।
భస్మలేపన సర్వాంగమ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 8 ॥
ఫలశ్రుతి మరియు ఉత్తర శ్లోకాలు
సాలగ్రామేషు విప్రాణాం తటాకం దశకూపయోః ।
యజ్ఞకోటి సహస్రాణాం ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 9 ॥
దంతికోటి సహస్రేషు అశ్వమేధ శతక్రతౌ ।
కోటికన్యా మహాదానమ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 10 ॥
బిల్వాణాం దర్శనం పుణ్యం స్పర్శనం పాపనాశనం ।
అఘోర పాపసంహారమ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 11 ॥
సహస్రవేద పాఠేషు బ్రహ్మస్థాపన ముచ్యతే ।
అనేకవ్రత కోటీనామ్ ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 12 ॥
అన్నదాన సహస్రేషు సహస్రోపనయనం తథా ।
అనేక జన్మ పాపాని ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 13 ॥
బిల్వాష్టకమిదం పుణ్యం యః పఠేచ్ఛివ సన్నిధౌ ।
శివలోకమవాప్నోతి ఏకబిల్వం శివార్పణం ॥ 14 ॥
॥ ఇతి శ్రీ బిల్వాష్టకం సంపూర్ణమ్ ॥
Bilvashtakam Lyrics in Hindi / Sanskrit (बिल्वाष्टकम् – देवनागरी लिपि)
भगवान शिव की आराधना हेतु श्री आदि शंकराचार्य विरचित पवित्र बिल्वाष्टकम् देवनागरी लिपि में:
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् ।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १ ॥
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः ।
तव पूजां करिष्यामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ २ ॥
कोटि कन्या महादानं तिलपर्वत कोटयः ।
काञ्चनं क्षीरदानेन एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ३ ॥
काशीक्षेत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनम् ।
प्रयागे माधवं दृष्ट्वा एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ४ ॥
इन्दुवारे व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारो महेश्वराः ।
नक्तं भोक्ष्यामि देवेश एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ५ ॥
रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तथा ।
तटाकानिच सन्धानम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ६ ॥
अखण्ड बिल्वपत्रं च आयुतं शिवपूजनम् ।
कृतं नाम सहस्रेण एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ७ ॥
उमया सह देवेश नन्दिवाहनमेव च ।
भस्मलेपन सर्वाङ्गम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ८ ॥
फलश्रुति एवं उत्तर श्लोक
सालग्रामेषु विप्राणां तटाकं दश कूपयोः ।
यज्ञकोटि सहस्राणां एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ९ ॥
दन्तिकोटि सहस्रेषु अश्वमेध शतक्रतौ ।
कोटि कन्या महादानम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १० ॥
बिल्वानां दर्शनं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् ।
अघोर पापसंहारम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ११ ॥
सहस्रवेद पाठेषु ब्रह्मस्थापन मुच्यते ।
अनेकव्रत कोटीनाम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १२ ॥
अन्नदान सहस्रेषु सहस्रोपनयनं तथा ।
अनेक जन्म पापानि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १३ ॥
बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिव सन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १४ ॥
॥ इति श्री बिल्वाष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Bilvashtakam in English with Verse-by-Verse Meaning (ఆంగ్ల అనువాదం)
Below is the complete Romanized English transliteration along with a detailed English translation of each verse:
Verse 1
Tridalaṃ Triguṇākāraṃ Trinetraṃ Ca Triyāyudham |
Trijanma Pāpasaṃhāraṃ Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 1 ||
Meaning: I offer a single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva – a leaf that possesses three leaflets, embodies the three primordial attributes (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), symbolizes the three cosmic eyes of Shiva and His divine trident (Trishula), and destroys the accumulated sins of three lifetimes.
Verse 2
Triśākhaiḥ Bilvapatraiśca Acchidraiḥ Komalaiḥ Śubhaiḥ |
Tava Pūjāṃ Kariṣyāmi Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 2 ||
Meaning: With these three-branched, tender, auspicious, and completely intact (unbroken) Bilva leaves, I perform Your sacred worship, O Lord Shiva! I offer this single holy Bilva leaf unto You.
Verse 3
Koṭi Kanyā Mahādānaṃ Tila-parvata Koṭayaḥ |
Kāñcanaṃ Kṣīra-dānena Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 3 ||
Meaning: Performing the auspicious marriage-gifting of ten million maidens (Kanyadaan), donating mountains of sesame seeds, and gifting lavish gold and nourishing cows yields tremendous virtue; yet, all these merits are equaled by offering just one Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
Verse 4
Kāśī-kṣetra Nivāsaṃ Ca Kāla-bhairava Darśanam |
Prayāge Mādhavaṃ Dṛṣṭvā Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 4 ||
Meaning: Residing in the holy realm of Varanasi (Kashi Kshetra), obtaining the blessed darshan of Lord Kala Bhairava, and worshipping Lord Bindu Madhava at the sacred confluence of Prayagraj brings liberation; this very same divine grace is attained simply by offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
Verse 5
Induvāre Vrataṃ Sthitvā Nirāhāro Maheśvarāḥ |
Naktaṃ Bhokṣyāmi Deveśa Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 5 ||
Meaning: Observing the sacred Somavara Vratam (Monday fast), abstaining from all food during the daytime in contemplation of Maheshwara, and partaking in food only after sunset following Shiva puja – I surrender this single Bilva leaf to You, O Lord of all Divinities.
Verse 6
Rāmaliṅga Pratiṣṭhā Ca Vaivāhika Kṛtaṃ Tathā |
Taṭākāni Ca Saṅdhānam Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 6 ||
Meaning: The immense spiritual merit gained by consecrating a sacred Shiva Lingam (as Lord Sri Rama consecrated Ramalingeshwara at Rameswaram), enabling pious weddings, and digging large freshwater reservoirs for people and animals is achieved by offering one Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
Verse 7
Akhaṇḍa Bilvapatraṃ Ca Āyutaṃ Śivapūjanam |
Kṛtaṃ Nāma Sahasreṇa Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 7 ||
Meaning: Worshipping Mahadeva with ten thousand unblemished Bilva leaves while chanting the thousand divine names (Shiva Sahasranama) yields immense fruit, which is lovingly attained by surrendering even one pure Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
Verse 8
Umayā Saha Deveśa Nandi-vāhanam-eva Ca |
Bhasma-lepana Sarvāṅgam Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 8 ||
Meaning: O Lord of the Devas, who is accompanied by the Divine Mother Uma (Parvati), who rides upon the holy bull Nandi, and whose entire sacred body is smeared with purified ash (Vibhuti) – I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Your lotus feet!
Verses 9 to 14 (Phalashruti – Fruits of Chanting)
Bilvāṣṭakam-idaṃ Puṇyaṃ Yaḥ Paṭhecchiva Sannidhau |
Śivalokam-avāpnoti Eka-bilvaṃ Śivārpaṇam || 14 ||
Meaning: Whoever recites this meritorious Bilvashtakam with devotion in the presence of Lord Shiva or a consecrated Shiva Lingam is cleansed of all transgressions and attains eternal residence in Shiva Loka (the divine abode of Lord Shiva), free from future rebirths.
Spiritual Benefits of Chanting Bilvashtakam (బిల్వాష్టకం పఠన ఫలితాలు)
According to ancient texts and traditional Shiva Upasana, daily recitation of the Bilvashtakam offers multifaceted blessings to the seeker:
- Absolution of Past Karmas: The hymn explicitly states “Trijanma Papa Samharam” – relieving the devotee of the burdens of sins accumulated over three lifetimes.
- Mental Calm & Focus: Meditating upon the peaceful nature of Lord Shiva while offering Bilva calms an agitated mind, reducing anxiety, fear, and negativity.
- Removal of Poverty & Obstacles: The Bilva tree is deeply connected with Goddess Lakshmi (who is also called Bilvavāsinī). Thus, worshipping Shiva with Bilva leaves brings both spiritual salvation and worldly prosperity.
- Health & Longevity: Scientifically and Ayurvedic-wise, the Bilva leaf is renowned for its anti-microbial and cooling properties. Worshipping around Bilva trees brings refreshing prana and vitality.
- Moksha (Liberation): Chanting Bilvashtakam during Pradosha or Shivaratri ensures spiritual elevation and ultimate union with the supreme consciousness.
Vidhi & Rules: How to Offer Bilva Leaves to Lord Shiva
When offering Bilva leaves to the Shiva Lingam, tradition outlines specific guidelines to maximize spiritual merit:
- Use Whole Trifoliate Leaves: A genuine Bilva leaf must have three connected leaflets. A single broken leaflet should never be offered on its own.
- Inspect the Leaves: Ensure the leaves are free from insect bites, drying, holes, or rot. Only unblemished (Acchidra) leaves should be selected.
- Correct Direction: Place the smooth, shiny green upper surface of the leaves directly touching the Shiva Lingam, with the central stem pointing towards yourself or the drainage (north).
- Chanting during Offering: Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” or repeat the chorus “Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam” while gently placing each leaf on the Lingam.
- The Reusability Rule: Unlike ordinary flowers which become stale after one use, the Bilva leaf holds a unique status in Hindu Shastras: if fresh Bilva leaves are unavailable, previously offered Bilva leaves can be gently washed with clean water and re-offered to Lord Shiva.
- When NOT to Pluck Bilva Leaves: According to the Shiva Purana, leaves should never be plucked on Chaturdashi, Ashtami, Amavasya, Purnima, Sankranti days, or on Mondays. For Monday worship or Pradosham, always pluck the leaves a day in advance.
Best Days & Timings to Recite Bilvashtakam
While Bilvashtakam can be recited every single day during morning or evening prayers, chanting on the following occasions brings multiplied spiritual rewards:
- Maha Shivaratri & Masa Shivaratri: The most potent nights for Shiva sadhana.
- Pradosham (Trayodashi Tithi): Especially Shani Pradosham and Soma Pradosham during the twilight (Sandhya) hour.
- Somavaram (Mondays): The dedicated day of Lord Shiva.
- Shravana & Karthika Months: Highly auspicious holy months for Bilva archana and Rudrabhishekam.
- Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM): Ideal time for quiet meditation and mantra repetition.
Frequently Asked Questions (తరచుగా అడిగే ప్రశ్నలు)
1. Who composed the Bilvashtakam?
Bilvashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century Vedic philosopher and proponent of Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
2. What is the meaning of “Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam”?
“Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam” translates to “I offer this one sacred Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva.” It reflects complete surrender and devotion of one’s ego and body to Mahadeva.
3. Can women and children recite Bilvashtakam?
Yes, absolutely. Bilvashtakam is a devotional prayer (Stotram) that can be recited by anyone regardless of age or gender with pure devotion, clean clothes, and a peaceful mind.
4. How many Bilva leaves should be offered to Lord Shiva?
Devotees commonly offer 1, 3, 11, 21, or 108 Bilva leaves during worship. As the hymn states, even offering a single pure Bilva leaf with deep love pleases Lord Shiva completely.
5. Why is the Bilva leaf uniquely loved by Lord Shiva?
The Bilva leaf carries intense cooling properties which soothes the fiery poison (Halahala) held in Lord Shiva’s throat (Neelakantha). Its three leaflets also reflect the threefold nature of creation, preservation, and dissolution over which Shiva presides.
How to Print or Save Bilvashtakam PDF
If you wish to carry this sacred Bilvashtakam stotram in your daily puja routine or keep a printed copy in your puja room:
- Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) on your keyboard.
- Select “Save as PDF” as your destination printer.
- Choose your preferred layout and click Save to have an ad-free, high-resolution copy on your mobile or computer.
May Lord Shiva bless you and your family with boundless health, peace, prosperity, and divine liberation! Om Namah Shivaya! (ఓం నమః శివాయ)
