# SB 6.9.7 > भूमिस्तुरीयं जग्राह खातपूरवरेण वै > ईरिणं ब्रह्महत्याया रूपं भूमौ प्रदृश्यते ॥७॥ ## 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.** ## 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.*