SB 6.9.7 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

भूमिस्तुरीयं जग्राह खातपूरवरेण वै । ईरिणं ब्रह्महत्याया रूपं भूमौ प्रद‍ृश्यते ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

bhūmis turīyaṁ jagrāha khāta-pūra-vareṇa vai īriṇaṁ brahma-hatyāyā rūpaṁ bhūmau pradṛśyate

Synonyms

bhūmiḥ — the earth ; turīyam — one fourth ; jagrāha — accepted ; khāta — pūra — of the filling of holes ; vareṇa — because of the benediction ; vai — indeed ; īriṇam — the deserts ; brahma — hatyāyāḥ — of the reaction for killing a brāhmaṇa ; rūpam — form ; bhūmau — on the earth ; pradṛśyate — is visible .

Translation

In return for King Indra’s benediction that ditches in the earth would be filled automatically, the land accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions for killing a brāhmaṇa. Because of those sinful reactions, we find many deserts on the surface of the earth.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

In return for King Indra's benediction that ditches in the earth would be filled automatically, the land accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions for killing a brāhmaṇa. Because of those sinful reactions, there is barren land on the earth. If the ditches will become filled with water on their own, I will accept one fourth of the sin. The earth accepted with this promise. Thus some of the earth is barren. It is forbidden to study the Vedas in such places, since sin resides there.

Purport

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.