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 Kannada with Meaning

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

ಬಿಲ್ವಾಷ್ಟಕಂ

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 — ತ್ರಿದಲಂ ತ್ರಿಗುಣಾಕಾರಂ ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಂ ಚ ತ್ರಿಯಾಯುಧಂ ।…

ತ್ರಿದಲಂ ತ್ರಿಗುಣಾಕಾರಂ ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಂ ಚ ತ್ರಿಯಾಯುಧಂ ।
ತ್ರಿಜನ್ಮಪಾಪಸಂಹಾರಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ತ್ರಿಶಾಖೈರ್ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರೈಶ್ಚ ಅಚ್ಛಿದ್ರೈಃ ಕೋಮಲೈಃ ಶುಭೈಃ…

ತ್ರಿಶಾಖೈರ್ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರೈಶ್ಚ ಅಚ್ಛಿದ್ರೈಃ ಕೋಮಲೈಃ ಶುಭೈಃ ।
ತವ ಪೂಜಾಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಕೋಟಿಕನ್ಯಾ ಮಹಾದಾನಂ ತಿಲಪರ್ವತಕೋಟಯಃ । ಕಾಂಚನಂ…

ಕೋಟಿಕನ್ಯಾ ಮಹಾದಾನಂ ತಿಲಪರ್ವತಕೋಟಯಃ ।
ಕಾಂಚನಂ ಶೈಲದಾನೇನ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಕಾಶೀಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ನಿವಾಸಂ ಚ ಕಾಲಭೈರವ ದರ್ಶನಂ । ಪ್ರಯಾಗೇ…

ಕಾಶೀಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ನಿವಾಸಂ ಚ ಕಾಲಭೈರವ ದರ್ಶನಂ ।
ಪ್ರಯಾಗೇ ಮಾಧವಂ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಇಂದುವಾರೇ ವ್ರತಂ ಸ್ಥಿತ್ವಾ ನಿರಾಹಾರೋ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರಃ ।…

ಇಂದುವಾರೇ ವ್ರತಂ ಸ್ಥಿತ್ವಾ ನಿರಾಹಾರೋ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರಃ ।
ನಕ್ತಂ ಹೌಶ್ಯಾಮಿ ದೇವೇಶ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ರಾಮಲಿಂಗ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾ ಚ ವೈವಾಹಿಕ ಕೃತಂ ತಥಾ । ತಟಾಕಾನಿ…

ರಾಮಲಿಂಗ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾ ಚ ವೈವಾಹಿಕ ಕೃತಂ ತಥಾ ।
ತಟಾಕಾನಿ ಚ ಸಂಧಾನಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಅಖಂಡ ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರಂ ಚ ಆಯುತಂ ಶಿವಪೂಜನಂ । ಕೃತಂ…

ಅಖಂಡ ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರಂ ಚ ಆಯುತಂ ಶಿವಪೂಜನಂ ।
ಕೃತಂ ನಾಮಸಹಸ್ರೇಣ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಉಮಯಾ ಸಹ ದೇವೇಶ ನಂದಿವಾಹನಮೇವ ಚ । ಭಸ್ಮಲೇಪನ ಸರ್ವಾಂಗಂ…

ಉಮಯಾ ಸಹ ದೇವೇಶ ನಂದಿವಾಹನಮೇವ ಚ ।
ಭಸ್ಮಲೇಪನ ಸರ್ವಾಂಗಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಸಾಲಗ್ರಾಮೇಶು ವಿಪ್ರಾನಾಂ ತಟಾಕಂ ದಶಕೂಪಯೋಃ । ಯಜ್ಞಕೋಟಿ…

ಸಾಲಗ್ರಾಮೇಶು ವಿಪ್ರಾನಾಂ ತಟಾಕಂ ದಶಕೂಪಯೋಃ ।
ಯಜ್ಞಕೋಟಿ ಸಹಸ್ರಶ್ಚ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ದಂತಿಕೋಟಿ ಸಹಸ್ರೇಶು ಅಶ್ವಮೇಧ ಶತಕ್ರತೌ । ಕೋಟಿಕನ್ಯಾ…

ದಂತಿಕೋಟಿ ಸಹಸ್ರೇಶು ಅಶ್ವಮೇಧ ಶತಕ್ರತೌ ।
ಕೋಟಿಕನ್ಯಾ ಮಹಾದಾನಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಬಿಲ್ವಾನಾಂ ದರ್ಶನಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶನಂ ಪಾಪನಾಶನಂ ।…

ಬಿಲ್ವಾನಾಂ ದರ್ಶನಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶನಂ ಪಾಪನಾಶನಂ ।
ಅಘೋರಪಾಪಸಂಹಾರಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಸಹಸ್ರವೇದಪಾಠೇಶು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ಥಾಪನಮುಚ್ಯತೇ ।…

ಸಹಸ್ರವೇದಪಾಠೇಶು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ಥಾಪನಮುಚ್ಯತೇ ।
ಅನೇಕವ್ರತಕೋಟೀನಾಂ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಅನ್ನದಾನ ಸಹಸ್ರೇಶು ಸಹಸ್ರೋಪನಯನಂ ತಥಾ ।…

ಅನ್ನದಾನ ಸಹಸ್ರೇಶು ಸಹಸ್ರೋಪನಯನಂ ತಥಾ ।
ಅನೇಕಜನ್ಮಪಾಪಾನಿ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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 — ಬಿಲ್ವಾಷ್ಟಕಮಿದಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ ಶಿವಸನ್ನಿಧೌ ।…

ಬಿಲ್ವಾಷ್ಟಕಮಿದಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ ಶಿವಸನ್ನಿಧೌ ।
ಶಿವಲೋಕಂ ಅವಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ಏಕಬಿಲ್ವಂ ಶಿವರ್ಪಣಂ ॥

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