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बिल्वाष्टकम्
Shiva · ashtakam · 8 verses
Skanda Purana
The Bilvashtakam is an eight-verse hymn recited while offering bilva (bael) leaves to Shiva. Each verse ends with the phrase 'eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam' — I offer this one bilva leaf to Shiva — and catalogues the extraordinary merit of this simple act: equalling pilgrimage to Kashi, gifts of elephants, or performance of the Vajapeya yajna. The bilva tree is sacred to Shiva because it embodies the trimurtis: Brahma at the root, Vishnu in the middle, Shiva at the tip.
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रयायुधम्।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
tri-dalaṃ tri-guṇākāraṃ tri-netraṃ ca trayāyudham।
tri-janma-pāpa-saṃhāraṃ eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
Three-leaved, embodiment of the three gunas, like Shiva's three eyes and three weapons, destroyer of sins of three lifetimes — I offer this one bilva leaf to Shiva.
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः।
तवपूजां करिष्यामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
tri-śākhaiḥ bilva-patraiś-ca acchidraiḥ komalaiḥ śubhaiḥ।
tava-pūjāṃ kariṣyāmi eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
With three-pronged bilva leaves — unbroken, soft, and auspicious — I shall perform your worship. I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
सर्वतीर्थमयं पुण्यं पापहरं पुनीतकम्।
काशीदर्शनसंतुल्यं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
sarva-tīrtha-mayaṃ puṇyaṃ pāpa-haraṃ punītakam।
kāśī-darśana-saṃtulyaṃ eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
Imbued with the merit of all sacred fords, sanctifying, removing sins, equal to a darshan of Kashi — I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
अखण्डबिल्वपत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे।
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यः एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
akhaṇḍa-bilva-patreṇa pūjite nandikeśvare।
śuddhyanti sarva-pāpebhyaḥ eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
When Nandikeshvara is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, one is purified of all sins. I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
सालग्रामेषु विप्राणां तटाके दक्षिणे फले।
यज्ञे ज्योतिषि वैराग्ये एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
sālagrāmeṣu viprāṇāṃ taṭāke dakṣiṇe phale।
yajñe jyotiṣi vairāgye eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
Greater than gifts of salagramas to brahmins, of tanks, of the southward fruit, of yajna, of jyotisha-knowledge, of dispassion — I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
दन्ती कोटिसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च।
कोटिकन्यामहादानं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
dantī koṭi-sahasrāṇi vājapeya-śatāni ca।
koṭi-kanyā-mahā-dānaṃ eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
Greater than gifts of millions of elephants, hundreds of vajapeya yajnas, the great gift of millions of brides — I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
लक्ष्म्याः स्तनुत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम्।
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
lakṣmyāḥ stanuta utpannaṃ mahādevasya ca priyam।
bilva-vṛkṣaṃ prayacchāmi eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
The bilva tree, born from the body of Lakshmi and dear to Mahadeva, I offer. I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम्।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
darśanaṃ bilva-vṛkṣasya sparśanaṃ pāpa-nāśanam।
aghora-pāpa-saṃhāraṃ eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
To see the bilva tree, to touch it, destroys sins; it destroys even the worst (aghora) sins. I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे।
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्॥
mūlato brahma-rūpāya madhyato viṣṇu-rūpiṇe।
agrataḥ śiva-rūpāya eka-bilvaṃ śivārpaṇam॥
At its root is Brahma, in its middle Vishnu, at its tip Shiva — I offer this one bilva to Shiva.
Sources: Skanda Purana. Awaiting scholar verification.