What is Bilvāṣṭakam and what does it mean?

Bilvāṣṭakam is a Sanskrit stotra (devotional hymn), composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, addressed to Shiva, of 14 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.

How do I pronounce Bilvāṣṭakam correctly?

Avabodhak presents Bilvāṣṭakam in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.

What is the word-by-word meaning of Bilvāṣṭakam?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Bilvāṣṭakam with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.

Who composed Bilvāṣṭakam?

Bilvāṣṭakam is attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.

In which scripts can I read Bilvāṣṭakam?

Bilvāṣṭakam is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.

Can I chant or practice Bilvāṣṭakam online?

Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Bilvāṣṭakam.

Bilvāṣṭakam — Tridalam Trigunakaaram in Devanagari with Meaning

Devanagari lyrics with meaning · composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya · stotra · 14 verses

बिल्वाष्टकम्

bilvāṣṭakam

Bilvāṣṭakam — thirteen verses in praise of the bilva leaf, dearest to Śiva, plus the phala; every verse closes by offering a single leaf at His feet.

Verse 1 — त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् ।…

त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् ।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

tridalaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinetraṃ ca triyāyudham |
trijanmapāpasaṃhāraṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

The three-leafleted leaf of three natures — like three eyes, like three weapons — destroyer of three births of sin: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 2 — त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः…

त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः ।
तव पूजां करिष्यामि एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

triśākhairbilvapatraiśca acchidraiḥ komalaiḥ śubhaiḥ |
tava pūjāṃ kariṣyāmi ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

With whole, tender, auspicious three-branched bilva leaves I shall worship You: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 3 — कोटिकन्या महादानं तिलपर्वतकोटयः । कांचनं…

कोटिकन्या महादानं तिलपर्वतकोटयः ।
कांचनं शैलदानेन एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

koṭikanyā mahādānaṃ tilaparvatakoṭayaḥ |
kāṃcanaṃ śailadānena ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Gifts of crores of maidens, mountains of sesame, gifts of gold and rock: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 4 — काशीक्षेत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनम् । प्रयागे…

काशीक्षेत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनम् ।
प्रयागे माधवं दृष्ट्वा एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

kāśīkṣetra nivāsaṃ ca kālabhairava darśanam |
prayāge mādhavaṃ dṛṣṭvā ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Dwelling at Kashi, beholding Kalabhairava, seeing Mādhava at Prayaga: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 5 — इन्दुवारे व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारो महेश्वरः ।…

इन्दुवारे व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारो महेश्वरः ।
नक्तं हौश्यामि देवेश एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

induvāre vrataṃ sthitvā nirāhāro maheśvaraḥ |
naktaṃ hauśyāmi deveśa ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Keeping the Monday fast, fasting, O Great Lord — I shall offer the night-oblation, O Lord of gods: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 6 — रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तथा । तटाकानि…

रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तथा ।
तटाकानि च संधानं एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

rāmaliṅga pratiṣṭhā ca vaivāhika kṛtaṃ tathā |
taṭākāni ca saṃdhānaṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Establishing the Rāma-liṅga and performing the nuptial rites, building tanks and bonds of kinship: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 7 — अखण्ड बिल्वपत्रं च आयुतं शिवपूजनम् । कृतं…

अखण्ड बिल्वपत्रं च आयुतं शिवपूजनम् ।
कृतं नामसहस्रेण एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

akhaṇḍa bilvapatraṃ ca āyutaṃ śivapūjanam |
kṛtaṃ nāmasahasreṇa ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

With a whole bilva leaf, with a myriad Śiva-worships, with a thousand recited names: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 8 — उमया सह देवेश नन्दिवाहनमेव च । भस्मलेपन…

उमया सह देवेश नन्दिवाहनमेव च ।
भस्मलेपन सर्वाङ्गं एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

umayā saha deveśa nandivāhanameva ca |
bhasmalepana sarvāṅgaṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

With Umā, the Lord whose bearer is Nandi, limbs smeared with ash: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 9 — सालग्रामेशु विप्रानां तटाकं दशकूपयोः । यज्ञकोटि…

सालग्रामेशु विप्रानां तटाकं दशकूपयोः ।
यज्ञकोटि सहस्रश्च एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

sālagrāmeśu viprānāṃ taṭākaṃ daśakūpayoḥ |
yajñakoṭi sahasraśca ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Amid śālagrāma stones, brahmins, tanks and ten wells — worth crores of sacrifices: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 10 — दन्तिकोटि सहस्रेशु अश्वमेध शतक्रतौ । कोटिकन्या…

दन्तिकोटि सहस्रेशु अश्वमेध शतक्रतौ ।
कोटिकन्या महादानं एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

dantikoṭi sahasreśu aśvamedha śatakratau |
koṭikanyā mahādānaṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Amid ten million elephants and a hundred horse-sacrifices, gifts of crores of maidens: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 11 — बिल्वानां दर्शनं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् ।…

बिल्वानां दर्शनं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् ।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

bilvānāṃ darśanaṃ puṇyaṃ sparśanaṃ pāpanāśanam |
aghorapāpasaṃhāraṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Beholding bilvas is merit, touching them ends sin and destroys dreadful wrongdoing: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 12 — सहस्रवेदपाठेशु ब्रह्मस्थापनमुच्यते ।…

सहस्रवेदपाठेशु ब्रह्मस्थापनमुच्यते ।
अनेकव्रतकोटीनां एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

sahasravedapāṭheśu brahmasthāpanamucyate |
anekavratakoṭīnāṃ ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Amid a thousand Vedic recitations, it is said, the Absolute is established; amid crores of vows: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 13 — अन्नदान सहस्रेशु सहस्रोपनयनं तथा ।…

अन्नदान सहस्रेशु सहस्रोपनयनं तथा ।
अनेकजन्मपापानि एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

annadāna sahasreśu sahasropanayanaṃ tathā |
anekajanmapāpāni ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Amid thousands of food-gifts and a thousand thread-ceremonies — the sins of many births: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Verse 14 — बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ ।…

बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकं अवाप्नोति एकबिल्वं शिवर्पणम् ॥

bilvāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhet śivasannidhau |
śivalokaṃ avāpnoti ekabilvaṃ śivarpaṇam ||

Whoever recites this holy Bilvashtakam before Śiva attains Śiva’s realm: this one bilva leaf I offer to Śiva.

Bilvāṣṭakam