Bilvashtakam — Word-by-Word Meaning

Three leaves in one, three-fold in nature (the three gunas), like the three eyes and three weapons of Shiva, the destroyer of the sins of three births — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. With three-lobed bilva leaves, whole, soft and auspicious, I shall perform the worship of Shiva — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. When Nandikeshvara (Shiva) is worshipped with an unbroken bilva leaf, one is cleansed of all sins — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. Equal in merit to gifting a shaligrama stone to the brahmins, and to the great merit of a Soma sacrifice — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. Equal to gifting a thousand crore elephants, a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, and the great gift of a crore maidens in marriage — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. Born from the body of Goddess Lakshmi and most dear to Mahadeva, I present this bilva tree — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. The very sight of the bilva tree, and its touch, destroy sin; it destroys even the gravest (aghora) sins — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. It grants residence in holy Kashi, the vision of Kala Bhairava, and the darshan of Madhava at Prayag — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. At its root is the form of Brahma, in its middle the form of Vishnu, and at its tip the form of Shiva — this single bilva leaf I offer to Shiva. Whoever recites this holy Bilvashtaka in the presence of Shiva is freed from every sin and attains the abode of Shiva (Shivaloka).