Shloka 7
Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
भूमिस्तुरीयं जग्राह खातपूरवरेण वै । ईरिणं ब्रह्महत्याया रूपं भूमौ प्रदृश्यते ॥ ७ ॥
bhūmis turīyaṁ jagrāha khāta-pūra-vareṇa vai īriṇaṁ brahma-hatyāyā rūpaṁ bhūmau pradṛśyate
インドラの「地の溝や穴が自ずと満たされる」という恩寵と引き換えに、大地はブラーフマナ殺しの罪報の四分の一を引き受けた。その反動ゆえに、地表には多くの荒れ地や砂漠が現れている。
Because deserts are manifestations of the earth’s diseased condition, no auspicious ritualistic ceremony can be performed in a desert. Persons destined to live in deserts are understood to be sharing the reactions for the sin of brahma-hatyā, the killing of a brāhmaṇa.
FAQs
This verse explains that brahma-hatyā is a grave sin whose reaction can manifest materially; the earth accepted one portion of it, seen as barren or wasted lands (īriṇa).
In the narrative, Indra seeks relief from the reaction of brahma-hatyā; by cosmic arrangement the burden is divided, and the earth accepts one fourth by taking it as the condition of pits being filled/covered, visible as wasteland.
It teaches moral accountability: harmful actions leave real consequences in the world. A devotee should act with dharma, seek purification through devotion and repentance, and avoid violence and exploitation that degrade the earth.