Bilva Upanishad

atha vāmadēvaḥ paramēśvaraṃ sṛṣṭhisthītilayakāraṇamumāsahitaṃ svaśirasā praṇamyēti hōvāca ||

adhīhi bhagavan sarvavidyāṃ sarvarahasyavariṣṭhā sadā sadbhiḥ pūjyamānā nigūḍhām ||

na vaktavyaṃ na vaktavyaṃ na vaktavyaṃ kadācana ||

matsvarūpastvaṃ jñēyō bilvavṛkṣō vidhānataḥ ||

ēkēna bilvapatrēna saṃtuṣṭō'smi mahāmunē ||

iti bruvantaṃ paramēśvaraṃ punaḥ praṇamyēti hōvāca ||

bhagavan sarvalōkēśa satyajñānādilakṣaṇa ||

kathaṃ pūjā prakartavyā tāṃ vadasva dāyānidhē ||

iti punaḥ pṛcchantaṃ vāmadēvamāliṅgyēti hōvāca ||

buddhimāṃstvamiti jñātvā vakṣyāmi munisattama ||

mama priyēṇa bilvēna tvaṃ kuruṣva madarcanaṃ ||

dravyāṇāmuttamairlōkē mamapūjāvidhau tava ||

patrapuṣpākṣatairdivyairbilvapatraiḥ samarcaya ||

bilvapatraṃ vinā pūjā vyarthā bhavati sarvadā ||

mamarūpamiti jñēyaṃ sarvarūpaṃ tadēva hi ||

prātaḥ snātvā vidhānēna saṃdhyākarma samāpya ca |

bhūtirudrākṣabharaṇa udīcīṃ diśamāśrayēt ||

sadyōjātādibhirmantrairnamaskṛtya punaḥ punaḥ |

pradakṣiṇatrayaṃ kṛtvā śivarūpamiti sphuṭam ||

dēvīṃ dhyāyēttathā vṛkṣē viṣṇurūpaṃ ca sarvadā |

brahmarūpaṃ ca vijñēyaṃ sarvarūpaṃ vibhāvayēt ||

vāmadakṣiṇamadhyasthaṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakam |

indrādayaśca yakṣāntā vṛntabhāgē vyavasthitāḥ ||

pṛṣṭhabhāgē'mṛtaṃ yasmād arcayēnmama tuṣṭayē ||

uttānabilvapatraṃ ca yaḥ kuryānmama mastakē ||

mama sāyujyamāpnōti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ||

trimūrtistriguṇaṃ baiʼlvamagnirūpaṃ tathaiva ca ||

brahmarūpaṃ kalārūpaṃ vēdarūpaṃ mahāmunē ||

purātanō'haṃ puruṣō'hamīśō hiraṇmayō'haṃ śivarūpāsmi ||

sabilvarūpaṃ suguṇātmarūpaṃ trimūrtirūpaṃ śivarūpāsmi ||

pṛṣṭhabhāgē'mṛtaṃ nyastaṃ dēvairbrahmādibhiḥ purā ||

uttānabilvapatrēṇa pūjayēt sarvasiddhayē ||

tasmāt sarvaprayatnēna bilvapatraiḥ sadārcaya ||

bilvapatraṃ vinā vastu nāsti kiñcittavānāgha ||

tasmāt sarvaprayatnēna bilvapatraiḥ sadārcaya ||

uttānapatrapūjāṃ ca yaḥ kuryānmama mastakē ||

iha lōkē'khilaṃ saukhyaṃ prāpnōtyantē purē mama ||

tiṣṭhatyēva mahāvīraḥ punarjanmavivajjitaḥ ||

sōdakairbilvapatraiśca yaḥ kuryānmama pūjanaṃ ||

mama sānnidhyamāpnōti pramathaiḥ sahō modatē ||

satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyamuddhṛtya bhajamucyatē ||

bilvapūjanatō lōkē matpūjāyāḥ parā na hi ||

trisūrṇaṃ triricāṃ rūpaṃ trisūrṇaṃ trayīmayam ||

trisūrṇaṃ triguṇaṃ trijagannūrṛtitriśaktitridṛk ||

kālatrayaṃ ca savaṇatrayaṃ liṅgatrayaṃ tripāt ||

tējaṃ trayamakārōkāramakārapraṇavātmakam ||

dēvēṣu brāhmaṇō'haṃ hi trisūrṇamayācītam ||

mahyaṃ vai brāhmaṇāyēdaṃ mayā vijñaptakāmikam ||

dadyādbrahmabhṛṇavīrahatyāyāścānyapātakaiḥ ||

muktō'khaṇḍānandabōdhō brahmabhūyāya kalpatē ||

trisūrṇōpaniṣadaḥ paṭhanātphaṅktipāvanaḥ ||

bōdhakō hyāhasāraddvai phaṅktiṃ pāvayatē dhruvam ||

trisūrṇaśrutirhyēṣā niṣkṛtau tridalē ratā ||

śradhatsva vidadhvanādyaṃ taditi vēdānuśāsanam ||

akhaṇḍānandasambōdhamayō yasmādahaṃ munē ||

vinyastā'mṛtabhāgēna suparṇē'vakūṇṭhaya ||

amṛtaṃ mōkṣavācantu tēnāsmadavakūṇṭhanāt ||

prāpyētē bhōgamōkṣau hi stityantē madanugrahāt ||

uttānabhāgaparṇēṇa mūrdhni mē nyubjamarpaṇyēt ||

mōkṣē'mṛtāvakūṇṭhō'haṃ bhavēyaṃ tava kāmadhuk ||

yēna kēna prakārēṇa bilvakēnāpi māṃ yajya ||

tīrthadānatapōyōgasvādhyāyā naiva tatsamāḥ ||

bilvaṃ vidhānataḥ sthāpya vardhayitvā ca taddalaiḥ ||

yaḥ pūjayati māṃ bhaktyā sō'hamēva na saṃśayaḥ ||

ya ētadadhītē brahmahā'brahmahā bhavati ||

svarṇastēyystēyī bhavati ||

English Translation

Verse 1: Then Vāmadeva, having bowed with his head to Parameshwara along with Umā, who is the cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution, spoke:

Verse 2: "Teach me, O Lord, the knowledge of all, the secret of secrets, the most excellent, which is always worshipped by the good, which is hidden."

Verse 3: "It should not be spoken, should not be spoken, should not be spoken at any time."

Verse 4: "My form should be known as the Bilva tree, according to the prescribed method."

Verse 5: "I am satisfied with one Bilva leaf, O great sage."

Verse 6: Having thus spoken, he again bowed to Parameshwara and said:

Verse 7: "O Lord of all worlds, characterized by truth, knowledge, and the like—"

Verse 8: "How should worship be performed? Tell me, O storehouse of compassion."

Verse 9: Having thus been asked again, Vāmadeva embraced him and said:

Verse 10: "Knowing that you are intelligent, I shall speak, O best of sages."

Verse 11: "You should perform my worship with my beloved Bilva."

Verse 12: "With the best substances in the world, in my method of worship—"

Verse 13: "With leaves, flowers, and akṣata (unbroken rice), with divine Bilva leaves, you should worship."

Verse 14: "Worship without Bilva leaves is always fruitless."

Verse 15: "My form should be known as all forms."

Verse 16: "Having bathed in the morning according to the prescribed method and completed the twilight (sandhyā) rituals—"

Verse 17: "Wearing sacred ash (bhūti) and rudrākṣa beads, one should face the northern direction."

Verse 18: "Having saluted again and again with the mantras beginning with Sadyojāta—"

Verse 19: "Having circumambulated three times, clearly meditating on the form of Shiva."

Verse 20: "One should meditate on the Devī in the tree, and always on the form of Vishnu."

Verse 21: "It should be known as the form of Brahma. One should imagine all forms."

Verse 22: "In the left, right, and middle is established the form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva."

Verse 23: "Indra and others, and Yakṣas up to the circumference, are established in the branches."

Verse 24: "Because on the back portion is placed nectar by the gods, headed by Brahma, in ancient times—"

Verse 25: "Whoever worships with an outspread Bilva leaf on my head—"

Verse 26: "Obtains my union. There is no doubt about this."

Verse 27: "The three-formed, three-guṇa Bilva, fire-formed likewise—"

Verse 28: "Brahma-formed, Kalā-formed, Veda-formed, O great sage."

Verse 29: "I am ancient, I am Purusha, I am the Lord, I am golden, I am of the form of Shiva."

Verse 30: "I am of Bilva form, of the form of good qualities, of the form of the Self, of the three-formed form, I am of the form of Shiva."

Verse 31: "On the back portion, nectar was placed by gods like Brahma in ancient times."

Verse 32: "One should worship with an outspread Bilva leaf for all attainments."

Verse 33: "Therefore, with all effort, one should always worship with Bilva leaves."

Verse 34: "There is no substance whatever without Bilva leaves, O sinner."

Verse 35: "Therefore, with all effort, one should always worship with Bilva leaves."

Verse 36: "Whoever performs worship with outspread leaves on my head—"

Verse 37: "Obtains all happiness in this world, and at my end attains the supreme abode."

Verse 38: "The great hero remains, freed from rebirth."

Verse 39: "Whoever performs my worship with water-bearing Bilva leaves—"

Verse 40: "Obtains my presence and rejoices with the Pramathas (Shiva's attendants)."

Verse 41: "Truth, truth, again truth—having been upheld, it is freed from consumption."

Verse 42: "In the world, there is nothing higher than Bilva worship—"

Verse 43: "Three-winged, form of the three Ṛichas, three-fold in the three Vedas, having three guṇas—"

Verse 44: "Form of the three worlds, triple energy, triple sight, triple time, threefold sacrifice, threefold Linga, threefold measurement."

Verse 45: "Threefold tejas, of the form of A, U, and M, of the form of Praṇava—"

Verse 46: "Among gods, I am a Brahmin, formed of the three-winged (Triśūrṇa)."

Verse 47: "For me, this was desired by Brahmins: 'May he give for the sin of Brahmin-killing and embryo-killing and other sins.'"

Verse 48: "Freed, the knower of unbroken bliss becomes fit for Brahman-hood."

Verse 49: "By reading the Triśūrṇa Upanishads, one becomes purified of the sin."

Verse 50: "The teacher who purifies the sin—by hearing a thousand, indeed, the sin is purified."

Verse 51: "This Triśūrṇa hearing is, in the three-lobed (Bilva leaf), devoted to the pure."

Verse 52: "With faith, knowing, one should offer today—thus is the Vedic injunction."

Verse 53: "Because I, O sage, am placed in the nectar portion with the golden egg (Suparṇa)—"

Verse 54: "May the nectar of liberation come from that encircling by me."

Verse 55: "Indeed, enjoyment and liberation are attained at the end through my grace."

Verse 56: "With an outspread leaf, one should offer on my head."

Verse 57: "In liberation, I am the encircler of nectar. May I be your wish-fulfiller."

Verse 58: "In whatever way, by whatever means, even with a Bilva leaf, one should sacrifice me—"

Verse 59: "Pilgrimage, charity, austerity, self-study—are not equal to that."

Verse 60: "Having planted the Bilva according to prescription, having grown it with its branches—"

Verse 61: "Whoever worships me with devotion, he is me indeed, without doubt."

Verse 62: "Whoever studies this, (the sin of) Brahmin-killing becomes non-Brahmin-killing."

Verse 63: "(The sin of) stealing gold becomes non-stealing of gold."

Key Teachings

The Sacred Bilva Tree

The Bilva Upanishad is a minor Upanishad that glorifies the Bilva tree (Aegle marmelos, also known as Bel or Wood Apple tree) as the manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Important Points:

1. Shiva's Satisfaction: The Upanishad states that Shiva is satisfied with the offering of even a single Bilva leaf.

2. Tree as Deity: The Bilva tree is described as containing the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas), the three worlds, and represents Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma in its different parts:

   • Base/Roots: Brahma

   • Middle: Vishnu

   • Top: Shiva

3. Worship Procedure:

   • Take bath in the morning

   • Perform sandhyā (twilight) rituals

   • Wear rudrākṣa and sacred ash (bhasma)

   • Face the northern direction

   • Chant Sadyojāta and other mantras

   • Circumambulate the tree three times

   • Offer Bilva leaves

4. Benefits:

   • Liberation from sins

   • Attainment of all desires

   • Closeness to Shiva

   • Ultimately, liberation (mokṣa)

5. Sacred Nature: The text emphasizes that worship without Bilva leaves is fruitless, and that the Bilva tree is Shiva Himself in form.

The Bilva leaf is tri-lobed (three leaflets), symbolizing the three eyes of Shiva, the three gunas, and the three functions of creation, preservation, and destruction.