Bilvashtakam

The "Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam" Stotram emphasizes the profound spiritual significance of offering a single bilva leaf to Lord Shiva, equating it with numerous grand religious acts and rituals. It underscores the simplicity and power of sincere devotion.

बिल्वाष्टकम

त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनॆत्रं च त्रियायुधं
त्रिजन्म पापसंहारम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्चिद्रैः कॊमलैः शुभैः
तवपूजां करिष्यामि ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

कॊटि कन्या महादानं तिलपर्वत कॊटयः
काञ्चनं क्षीलदानॆन ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

काशीक्षॆत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनं
प्रयागॆ माधवं दृष्ट्वा ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

इन्दुवारॆ व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारॊ महॆश्वराः
नक्तं हौष्यामि दॆवॆश ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तधा
तटाकानिच सन्धानम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

अखण्ड बिल्वपत्रं च आयुतं शिवपूजनं
कृतं नाम सहस्रॆण ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

उमया सहदॆवॆश नन्दि वाहनमॆव च
भस्मलॆपन सर्वाङ्गम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

सालग्रामॆषु विप्राणां तटाकं दशकूपयॊः
यज्नकॊटि सहस्रस्च ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

दन्ति कॊटि सहस्रॆषु अश्वमॆध शतक्रतौ
कॊटिकन्या महादानम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

बिल्वाणां दर्शनं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं पापनाशनं
अघॊर पापसंहारम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

सहस्रवॆद पाटॆषु ब्रह्मस्तापन मुच्यतॆ
अनॆकव्रत कॊटीनाम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

अन्नदान सहस्रॆषु सहस्रॊप नयनं तधा
अनॆक जन्मपापानि ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

बिल्वस्तॊत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः पठॆश्शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलॊकमवाप्नॊति ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं

Meaning

Verse 1 : I offer one bilva leaf to Lord Shiva, which represents the three leaves, symbolizing the three qualities (gunas), the three eyes of Shiva, and the three weapons, and which destroys the sins of three lifetimes.

Verse 2 : With three undamaged, tender, and auspicious bilva leaves, I worship you, O Shiva. I offer one bilva leaf to you, O Lord.

Verse 3 : Offering crores of daughters in marriage, or millions of mountains of sesame seeds, or the wealth equal to offering gold, is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 4 : Living in Kashi, having the darshan of Kala Bhairava, and seeing Madhava in Prayaga is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 5 : Observing fasts on Mondays and staying without food, and worshiping the Lord at night is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 6 : Installing the Rama Lingam, performing marriages, and constructing lakes are equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 7 : Offering an unbroken bilva leaf or worshiping Shiva with a thousand names is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 8 : With Uma (Parvati) as your consort, with Nandi as your vehicle, and with your body smeared with sacred ash, I offer one bilva leaf to you, O Shiva.

Verse 9 : In the Salagrama stones offered to Brahmins, constructing lakes and wells, and performing thousands of yajnas, is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 10 : Offering thousands of elephants, or performing hundreds of Ashwamedha yajnas, or giving crores of daughters in marriage, is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 11 : Seeing the bilva tree is auspicious, touching it removes sins, and offering one bilva leaf destroys terrible sins.

Verse 12 : Reciting the Vedas thousands of times or performing intense penances is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 13 : Donating thousands of food offerings or opening thousands of eyes of the blind is equaled by offering one bilva leaf to Shiva.

Verse 14 : Whoever recites this holy bilva stotram in the presence of Lord Shiva attains Shiva's abode. I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva.

This stotram highlights the immense spiritual merit and significance of offering a single bilva leaf to Lord Shiva, equating it with various grand religious acts and penances.