In plain words
From Viṣṇu, Īśvara-hood. The body itself is Brahmā. The mind is Viṣṇu. Speech itself is Īśvara. It is most necessary for us to protect the form of these three.
Three-leaved, three-guṇa-shaped, three-eyed and three-weaponed, destroyer of the sins of three births: a single bilva offered to Śiva.
This body is made of these three guṇas. Among these, it is in each one: it is in the mind, it is in speech. It is in the body. The Ātma: there is the bilva leaf, three-leaved in form. Because it is three-leaved in form, body, mind and speech, these three too are like the three leaves. The basis of the body is the Ātma alone. So I offer You this bilva, endowed with the three guṇas. With just this in view, Saccidānandam called it ‘Śaraṇāgati’. Śaraṇāgati means this: the oneness of all is itself Śaraṇāgati.
The Principle of Śaraṇāgati
Once, at the time when Rāma was living in the forest, Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, all three, reached the Citrakūṭa mountain. But Rāma pretended to be tired. “Lakṣmaṇa! Your sister-in-law seems very tired. We will have to stay right here now for these ten years. So build a hut of leaves,” He said. Lakṣmaṇa said, “Where, brother?” “Build it wherever you like,” He said. “Rāma! What sin have I committed?” and with that Lakṣmaṇa sank to the ground. Sītā too was greatly surprised. “What has He said! Your elder brother! He did not tell you to strike some animal, did He! Why are you so upset?” Sītā asked. “Mother! Is there any fault greater than this! I have offered everything to Him. ‘Madīya dhanadārādi sarvabhāra samarpitaṃ, atmatbalaṃ śeṣabhūtaṃ, rakṣamāṃ śaraṇāgati.’ I have a wife. I have children. I have a kingdom. I gave up everything and came with Rāma. At such a time, when He tells me to build it wherever I like, do I have any liking of my own? Can there be a reproach worse than so harsh a word? I have committed some sin,” he said. When he did this, Rāma went to him, Rāma who is full of compassion, and admitted: “Lakṣmaṇa! It was a mistake.