[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s18.433 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.433 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.433 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s18.433](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.433) Diś, ‘direction,’ is a word very frequently used in the Rigveda and later¹ to denote a quarter of the sky. As a general rule, four quarters are mentioned—east, south, west, north.² But the number of the ‘directions’ is sometimes increased up to ten by the addition to these four of various others. The five points include the zenith (ūrdhvā);³ the six, the zenith and the nadir (ūrdhvā and avācī);⁴ the seven, the zenith, the ground on which one stands (dhruvā), and the air (antarikṣa) between these two (vyadhvā);⁵ the eight include the intermediate quarters (S.E., S.W., N.E., N.W.);⁶ the nine add to these the zenith;⁷ the ten, zenith and nadir.⁸ The number five is sometimes made up by the ground beneath the observer's feet (\*dhruvā\*),⁹ and the number six by that point (\*dhruvā\*) and the zenith (\*ūrdhva\*);¹⁰ the ‘lofty’ (\*bṛhatī\*)¹¹ sometimes taking the place of the ‘vertical’ (\*ūrdhva\*). - [Previous: v1.c3.s18.432](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.432) - [Next: v1.c3.s18.434](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.434) - [Up: v1.c3.s18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18) ## Linked texts (1) - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.433](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.433) · Pramāṇa