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
इंद्राच्या वरदानामुळे—पृथ्वीतील खड्डे आपोआप भरतील—या बदल्यात भूमीने ब्राह्मण-वधाच्या पापफळाचा चतुर्थांश स्वीकारला. त्या पापप्रतिक्रियेनेच भूमीवर अनेक ऊसर/वाळवंटे दिसतात।
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.