Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the famous Bilvashtakam extols the virtues of the Bilva leaf (also spelt Vilva, Bilwa) and Lord Shiva’s love for it. Shri Shiva Bilvashtakam is a very powerful chant that describes the power and glory of offering bilva leaves to Lord Shiva. They are to be offered in a group of three leaves and are said to have features that identify them with Lord Shiva himself. The Bilva leaf is trifoliate which signifies the holy Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. It also signifies the three eyes of Shiva. According to Shiva Purana, The Bilwa is the symbol of Lord Shiva. It is adored even by the Gods. it is difficult to understand its greatness. Blessed are the ones who offer the Bilva. One Bilva is equal to a thousand lotus, says the Siva Purana. According to the Skanda Purana, the Bilwa (Bel) tree grew from the sweat droplets of Parvati which fell on the Mandrachal mountain. From there the Bel tree emerged. Hence, it is believed that the Goddess resides in this tree in all Her forms. She resides as Girija in the roots of the tree, as Maheshwari in its trunk, as Dakshayani in its branches, Parvati in its leaves, Katyayani in its fruit and as Gauri in its flowers. Therefore as Parvati resides in Her various forms in this tree, Shiva is extremely fond of its leaves.
ତ୍ରିଦଳଂ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣାକାରଂ ତ୍ରିନେତ୍ରଂ ଚ ତ୍ରିୟାୟୁଧମ୍ ।
ତ୍ରିଜନ୍ମ ପାପସଂହାରଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva
Which has three leaves (a Bilva leaf has 3 leaves as a cluster)
Which represents the three Gunas (Satva, Rajas, Tamas)
And represents three eyes of Shiva
Which is like the triad of weapons he bears
And whose very thought or uttering of names destroys one’s accumulated sins.
ତ୍ରିଶାଖୈଃ ବିଲ୍ଵପତ୍ରୈଶ୍ଚ ଅଚ୍ଛିଦ୍ରୈଃ କୋମଲୈଃ ଶୁଭୈଃ ।
ତଵପୂଜାଂ କରିଷ୍ୟାମି ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva
Which has three shoots
Which are not defective in any manner
Which are soft and tender
Which are auspicious.
କୋଟି କନ୍ୟା ମହାଦାନଂ ତିଲପର୍ଵତ କୋଟୟଃ ।
କାଂଚନଂ ଶୈଲଦାନେନ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
Gifting of millions of daughters in marriage or
Offering mountains of Sesame seeds or
Donating a mountain of Gold,
Such virtue can be earned by the
Offering of a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
କାଶୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ର ନିଵାସଂ ଚ କାଲଭୈରଵ ଦର୍ଶନମ୍ ।
ପ୍ରୟାଗେ ମାଧଵଂ ଦୃଷ୍ଟ୍ଵା ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
If one stays at the holy city of Kasi, and then
Has darsan of the Lord Kalabhairava there
Visits Prayag and has darsan of Lord Madhava there
And also offers worship to Lord Shiva with the Bilva leaf
He is assured of the Lord’s grace.
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ଇଂଦୁଵାରେ ଵ୍ରତଂ ସ୍ଥିତ୍ଵା ନିରାହାରୋ ମହେଶ୍ଵରାଃ ।
ନକ୍ତଂ ହୌଷ୍ୟାମି ଦେଵେଶ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
On Monday, I shall observe a spiritual fast and worship you
I shall consume food only at night O Lord of Lords
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ରାମଲିଂଗ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା ଚ ଵୈଵାହିକ କୃତଂ ତଥା ।
ତଟାକାନିଚ ସଂଧାନଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
The divine bliss attained by Lord Rama by installing a Shiva Linga
Such divine bliss can be attained by offering
A single leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ଅଖଂଡ ବିଲ୍ଵପତ୍ରଂ ଚ ଆୟୁତଂ ଶିଵପୂଜନମ୍ ।
କୃତଂ ନାମ ସହସ୍ରେଣ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
Lord Shiva should be worshipped with a whole (unblemished) Bilva leaf.
Having chanted his name a thousand times
I offer a Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
ଉମୟା ସହଦେଵେଶ ନଂଦି ଵାହନମେଵ ଚ ।
ଭସ୍ମଲେପନ ସର୍ଵାଂଗଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
O Lord, you are seated besides Parvati
Nandi is your mount
Your entire body is smeared with ash
O Lord Shiva, I offer a Bilva leaf to you.
ସାଲଗ୍ରାମେଷୁ ଵିପ୍ରାଣାଂ ତଟାକଂ ଦଶକୂପୟୋଃ ।
ୟଜ୍ଞ୍ନକୋଟି ସହସ୍ରସ୍ୟ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
By offering the Shaligrama stone to a Brahmin who has realised the Self
Or by performing countelss Yagnas
One acquires great virtue
Such virtue can be earned by
Offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
ଦଂତି କୋଟି ସହସ୍ରେଷୁ ଅଶ୍ଵମେଧଶତକ୍ରତୌ ଚ ।
କୋଟିକନ୍ୟା ମହାଦାନଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
The virtue earned by donating a thousand elephants
Or by performing a hundred Aswamedha sacrifices
Or by giving away in a marriage a countless daughters
Such virtue can be earned by offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
ବିଲ୍ଵାଣାଂ ଦର୍ଶନଂ ପୁଣ୍ୟଂ ସ୍ପର୍ଶନଂ ପାପନାଶନମ୍ ।
ଅଘୋର ପାପସଂହାରଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
Even having a look at the Bilva tree or
Even just touching it
Destroys the most horrible sins one might have committed.
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ସହସ୍ରଵେଦ ପାଟେଷୁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମସ୍ତାପନମୁଚ୍ୟତେ ।
ଅନେକଵ୍ରତ କୋଟୀନାଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
Chanting the vedas a thousand times
Is said to elevate one to a great spiritual height
And so with performing spiritual fasts crores of times
Equal to all of these is
Offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
ଅନ୍ନଦାନ ସହସ୍ରେଷୁ ସହସ୍ରୋପନୟନଂ ତଧା ।
ଅନେକ ଜନ୍ମପାପାନି ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
The virtue earned by donating food to thousands
Or by performing a thouand thread ceremonies
Such virtue is attained
By offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva
Which washes away the sins of many lives.
ବିଲ୍ଵାଷ୍ଟକମିଦଂ ପୁଣ୍ୟଂ ୟଃ ପଠେଶ୍ଶିଵ ସନ୍ନିଧୌ ।
ଶିଵଲୋକମଵାପ୍ନୋତି ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପଣମ୍ ॥
Whoever reads these sacred verses of Bilvashtakam
In the proximity (presence) of Lord Shiva
Will be freed of all sins
And will attain the abode of Lord Shiva.
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ଵିକଲ୍ପ ସଂକର୍ପଣ
ତ୍ରିଦଳଂ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣାକାରଂ ତ୍ରିନେତ୍ରଂ ଚ ତ୍ରିୟାୟୁଧମ୍ ।
ତ୍ରିଜନ୍ମ ପାପସଂହାରଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 1 ॥
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva
Which has three leaves (a Bilva leaf has 3 leaves as a cluster)
Which represents the three Gunas (Satva, Rajas, Tamas)
And represents three eyes of Shiva
Which is like the triad of weapons he bears
And whose very thought or uttering of names destroys one’s accumulated sins.
ତ୍ରିଶାଖୈଃ ବିଲ୍ଵପତ୍ରୈଶ୍ଚ ଅଚ୍ଛିଦ୍ରୈଃ କୋମଲୈଃ ଶୁଭୈଃ ।
ତଵପୂଜାଂ କରିଷ୍ୟାମି ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 2 ॥
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva
Which has three shoots
Which are not defective in any manner
Which are soft and tender
Which are auspicious.
ଦର୍ଶନଂ ବିଲ୍ଵଵୃକ୍ଷସ୍ୟ ସ୍ପର୍ଶନଂ ପାପନାଶନମ୍ ।
ଅଘୋରପାପସଂହାରଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 3 ॥
Even having a look at the Bilva tree or
Even just touching it
Destroys the most horrible sins one might have committed.
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ସାଲଗ୍ରାମେଷୁ ଵିପ୍ରେଷୁ ତଟାକେ ଵନକୂପୟୋଃ ।
ୟଜ୍ଞ୍ନକୋଟି ସହସ୍ରାଣାଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 4 ॥
By offering the Shaligrama stone to a Brahmin who has realised the Self
Or by performing countelss Yagnas
One acquires great virtue
Such virtue can be earned by
Offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
ଦଂତିକୋଟି ସହସ୍ରେଷୁ ଅଶ୍ଵମେଧ ଶତାନି ଚ ।
କୋଟିକନ୍ୟାପ୍ରଦାନେନ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 5 ॥
Gifting of thousands of crores of elephants, or
Performing hundreds of great sacrifices like the Vajapeya (sacrifices made by kings) or
Gifting of millions of daughters in marriage
Cannot be compared with the offering of a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ଏକଂ ଚ ବିଲ୍ଵପତ୍ରୈଶ୍ଚ କୋଟିୟଜ୍ଞ୍ନ ଫଲଂ ଲଭେତ୍ ।
ମହାଦେଵୈଶ୍ଚ ପୂଜାର୍ଥଂ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 6 ॥
By performing countelss Yagnas
One acquires great virtue
Such virtue can be earned by
Offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.
କାଶୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରେ ନିଵାସଂ ଚ କାଲଭୈରଵ ଦର୍ଶନମ୍ ।
ଗୟାପ୍ରୟାଗ ମେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟ୍ଵା ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 7 ॥
If one stays at the holy city of Kasi, and then
Has darsan of the Lord Kalabhairava there
Visits Prayag and has darsan of Lord Madhava there
And also offers worship to Lord Shiva with the Bilva leaf
He is assured of the Lord’s grace.
I offer one leaf of Bilva to Lord Shiva.
ଉମୟା ସହ ଦେଵେଶଂ ଵାହନଂ ନଂଦିଶଂକରମ୍ ।
ମୁଚ୍ୟତେ ସର୍ଵପାପେଭ୍ୟୋ ଏକବିଲ୍ଵଂ ଶିଵାର୍ପିତମ୍ ॥ 8 ॥
O Lord, you are seated besides Parvati
Nandi is your mount
Your entire body is smeared with ash
O Lord Shiva, I offer a Bilva leaf to you.
ଇତି ଶ୍ରୀ ବିଲ୍ଵାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ ॥
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