Bilva Ashtakam or Octet to the Lord, offering Bilva Leaves 

 

 

Tridalam Trigunakaaram Trinethram Cha Triyayusham,
Trijanma Papa Samharam Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 1

The triune leaves of Bilva,

I offer to Him,
Symbolising the qualities triune
Like His three eyes !

Representing triad of weapons
Which destroys sins
Of births three
I offer to Thee, O Lord !


Trishakhai Bilwapathraischa Hyachidrai Komalai Shubai,
Shiva Poojam Karishyami, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 2


The sacred Bilva tree
Has three shoots
No holes seen
Good and pretty they are
I offer to Thee, O Lord
These leaves sacred, sacred to Thee !

Aganda Bilwa Pathrena Poojithe Nandikeshware,
Shudhyanthi Sarva Papebhyo, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 3

 

 

Again I offer
One leaf of Bilva
To Thee, O Merciful !
For if an uncut leaf
Is offered to Nandi
The Bull, before
Thy idol
It cleanses sins !
These leaves sacred, sacred to Thee !


Salagrama Shilamekaam Vipranam Jatha Cha Arpayeth,
Soma Yagna Maha Punyam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 4

Again I offer one leaf

Of the sacred Bilva tree

It is as good

As offering a Saligrama

To a Brahmin scholar

These sacred leaves

Are beloved to Him

It is equal

To the blessings receivd

From Soma Yoga

Or such Yajnas !

Dandi Koti Sahasrani Vajapeya Sathani Cha,
Koti Kanya Maha Danam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 5

I offer this sacred leaf

Of the divine Bilva

To the Lord of Destruction

It is deemed equal

To gifting thousand elephants

Equal to hundreds

Of fire sacrifices

Or giving away
Millions of girls

In marriage !

Lakshmyasthanutha Uthpannam Mahadevasya Cha Priyam,
Bilwa Vruksham Prayachami, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 6

Mythologically sacred
This Bilva is !

Equal to giving

Away a tree of Bilva

Which was born

From the breast

Of the Goddess of Prosperity

And beloved to Him

I offer a Bilva leaf

To Thee, O Mighty One !

 

Darshanam Bilwa Vrukshasya, Sparsanam Papa Nasanam,
Aghora Papa Samharam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 7

 

Seeing a Bilva tree

Is considered sacred

Touching same

Is also sacred

It washes away sins

Sins galore, sins powerful

I offer a Bilva leaf

To Thee, O Mighty One !

 

Moolatho Brahma Roopaya, Madhyatho Vishnu Roopine
Agratha Shiva Roopaya, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam 8

This Bilva tree is marked

By presence of  Trinity

Lord Brahma at bottom

Lord Vishnu in the middle

Lord Shiva at top