Diya Prayer & mantra guide
Bilvashtakam Lyrics in English, With Meaning
Bilvashtakam lyrics in English with the meaning of each passage, the original script, and the recording Diya plays to listen along.
The short answer
Bilvashtakam is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, praising the offering of bilva leaves.
This page has all 14 passages of Bilvashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays: the words in English letters, the original script where Diya's record has it, and the meaning of each passage in English, with the recording to listen along.
Bilvashtakam lyrics and meaning
Below are the 14 passages of Bilvashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays, in the order they are sung. Each row gives the words in English letters under the original script, and their meaning in English. The meaning of 7 passages is still being reviewed and is marked.
| Words (original script and transliteration) | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् त्रिजन्म पापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Tridalam trigunaakaaram Trinetram cha triyaayudham Trijanma paapasamhaaram Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva: its three leaflets embody the three qualities of nature, Shiva's three eyes and three weapons; it is praised as destroying the sins of three births. |
| त्रिशाखैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः तव पूजां करिष्यामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Trishaakhairbilvapatraishcha Achchhidraih komalaih shubhaih Tava poojaam karishyaami Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | With tender, auspicious bilva leaves, each with three leaflets and no holes, I will worship you. I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva. |
| कोटिकन्यामहादानं तिलपर्वतकोटयः काञ्चनं शैलदानेन एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Kotikanyaamahaadaanam Tilaparvatakotayah Kaanchanam shailadaanena Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | The great marriage-gift of ten million daughters, crores of mountains of sesame, and a mountain of gold as a gift: one bilva leaf offered to Shiva. |
| काशीक्षेत्रनिवासं च कालभैरवदर्शनम् प्रयागे माधवं दृष्ट्वा एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Kaasheekshetranivaasam cha Kaalabhairavadarshanam Prayaage maadhavam drishtvaa Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Dwelling in sacred Kashi, beholding Kalabhairava, and having seen Madhava at Prayag: I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva. |
| इन्दुवारे व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारो महेश्वरा नक्तं हौष्यामि देवेश एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Induvaare vratam sthitvaa Niraahaaro maheshwaraa Naktam haushyaami devesha Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तथा तटाकादि च सन्तानं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Raamalinga pratishthaa cha Vaivaahika kritam tathaa Tataakaadi cha santaanam Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| अखण्ड बिल्व पत्रं च आयुतं शिव पूजनम् कृतं नाम सहस्रेण एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Akhanda bilva patram cha Aayutam shiva poojanam Kritam naama sahasrena Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| उमया सह देवेश नन्दिवाहनमेव च भस्मलेपन सर्वाङ्गं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Umayaa saha devesha Nandivaahanameva cha Bhasmalepana sarvaangam Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | O Lord of the gods, with Uma beside you, Nandi as your mount, and ash spread over your whole body, I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva. |
| सालग्रामेषु विप्राणां तटाकं दशकूपयोः यज्ञकोटि सहस्रस्य एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Saalagraameshu vipraanaam Tataakam dashakoopayoh Yajnakoti sahasrasya Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| दन्तिकोटिसहस्रेषु अश्वमेधशतक्रतौ कोटिकन्यामहादानम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Dantikotisahasreshu Ashwamedhashatakratau Kotikanyaamahaadaanam Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Thousands of crores of elephants, a hundred horse sacrifices, and the great marriage-gift of ten million daughters: one bilva leaf offered to Shiva. |
| बिल्वानां दर्शनं पुण्यम् स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् अघोरपापसंहारम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Bilvaanaam darshanam punyam Sparshanam paapanaashanam Aghorapaapasamhaaram Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| सहस्रवेदपाठेषु ब्रह्मस्थापनमुच्यते अनेकव्रतकोटीनाम् एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Sahasravedapaatheshu Brahmasthaapanamuchyate Anekavratakoteenaam Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| अन्नदानसहस्रेषु सहस्रोपनयनं तथा अनेकजन्मपापानि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Annadaanasahasreshu Sahasropanayanam tathaa Anekajanmapaapaani Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | Meaning still under review. |
| बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यम् यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ शिवलोकमवाप्नोति एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् Bilvaashtakamidam punyam Yah pathechchhivasannidhau Shivalokamavaapnoti Ekabilvam shivaarpanam | The hymn declares that whoever recites this sacred Bilvashtakam in Shiva's presence reaches Shiva's world. I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva. |
Listen and chant along in Diya
Diya's English explains each passage in plain language; it is not a word-for-word translation.
About Bilvashtakam
Bilvashtakam is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, praising the offering of bilva leaves.
In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings, including Bilvashtakam. Diya is available for iPhone. See the Diya app.
Download the Bilvashtakam PDF
Download the Bilvashtakam lyrics in English (PDF): the full text in the original script with transliteration, and the meaning of each passage, ready to print.
Related reading
Questions people ask
What is Bilvashtakam?
Bilvashtakam is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, praising the offering of bilva leaves.
Can I listen to Bilvashtakam while reading the words?
Yes. The recording Diya plays is on this page, above the words. In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings.
Is the English a word-for-word translation?
No. Diya's English gives the meaning of each passage in plain language, not a word-for-word translation. The meaning of 7 passages is still being reviewed and is marked.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Bilvashtakam: words and English meanings (Diya listening library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
- Bilwashtakam [Full Song] By S.P. Balasubrahmaniam - SHIVA STHUTHI
T-Series Bhakti SagarPublished by YouTube
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