CHAAR KUNT, CHAAR KHAANEE AND DAS DISHAA

These three terms appear frequently in the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib). First, the term "Chaar Kunt" (ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ, etc.) indicates the four main quarters, regions or directions (Kon or Dishaa) to the earth: (1) Poorab or east, (2) Pachham or west, (3) Uttar or north, and (4) Dakhan or south.

• ਅਨਜਾਨਤ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਮਹਿ ਰਚੈ ॥ ਜੇ ਜਾਨਤ ਆਪਨ ਆਪ ਬਚੈ ॥ ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥ਨਿਮਖ ਮਾਹਿ ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵੈ ॥: Anajaanat bikhiaa mahi rachai. Je jaanah aapan aap bachai. Bharame bhoolaa dah dis dhaavai. Nimakh maahi chaar kunt fir aavai: Through ignorance, people are engrossed in corruption. If they knew better, they would save themselves. Deluded by doubt, they wander around in the ten directions. In an instant, their minds go around the four quarters of the world and come back again (sggs 277).
• ਜਿਸੁ ਧਨ ਕਉ ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸੋ ਧਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ॥: Jis dhan kou chaar kunt outh dhaavahi. So dhan har sevaa te paavahi: The wealth which you chase after in the four quarters, you will obtain that wealth by serving the Lord (sggs 288).
  

Chaar Khaanee ("ਚਾਰੇ ਕਾਣੀ", etc.) denotes four main sources of creation: (1) Andaj or egg-born, (2) Jeraj or womb/placenta-born, (3) Setaj or sweat-born, and (4) Outbhuj or earth-born (vegetation etc.).

• ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਉਤਭੁਜਾਂ ਖਾਣੀ ਸੇਤਜਾਂਹ ॥: Andaj jeraj outbhujaan khaanee setajaanh: The four sources of creation are: born of eggs, born of the womb, born of the earth and born of sweat (sggs 467).
• ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਉਤਭੁਜ ਸੇਤਜ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਜੰਤਾ ॥: Andaj jeraj outbhuj setaj tere keete jantaa (sggs 596).

Das Dishaa" ("ਦਹ ਦਿਸ", "ਦਸ ਦਿਸ", etc.) refers to ten directions (Kon or Dishaa), which include four main ones listed before and six additional directions (four sub-directions or corridors between the four main ones and the other two include the upward and the downward direction) as follows: (1) Poorab or east, (2) Pachham or west, (3) Uttar or north, (4) Dakhan or south, (5) Eeshaan Kon or north east, (6) Agani Kon or south east, (7) Nairitee Kon or south west, (8) Vaayavee Kon or north west, (9) Aakaash or sky (denotes upward direction), and (10) Paataal or underworld/nether worlds (denotes downward direction).

• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਭਰਿ ਰਹੇ ਮਨਿ ਆਸਾ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਬਹੁ ਲਾਖੁ ॥: Manmukh trisanaa bhar rahe mani aasaa dah dis bahu laakh: The self-willed Manmukhs are filled with the craving (for what the mind desires as pleasure); their minds run around in the ten directions, hoping for plenty wealth (sggs 997).
• ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥: Bharame bhoolaa dah dis dhaavai: Deluded by doubt, they (ignorant) wander around in the ten directions (sggs 277).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਰਹੇ ਅਤਿ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਲੋਭ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥: Manmukh dah dis fir rahe ati tisanaa lobh vikaar: The self-willed Manmukhs wander lost in the ten directions, led by intense craving (for what the mind desires as pleasure), greed and corruption (sggs 1418).

These terms are in a way interconnected. First, as indicated by the SGGS, they are all created by the Lord. Second, it's according to the dictate of one's Karma, one is born through any of the four main sources of creation. Third, on account of the Manmukh lifestyle (ego or Haume consciousness), the vast majority amongst those born as humans wander around everywhere: "ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ" (ਚੁਫੇਰੇ ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ).

• ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਰਮ ਕੇ ਵੀਛੁੜੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਲਹੁ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਭ੍ਰਮੇ ਥਕਿ ਆਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਾਮ ॥: Kirat karam ke veeshurre kar kirapaa melahu raam. Chaar kunt dah dis bhrame thaki aaye prabh kee saam: (O Lord) On account of the actions committed (Karma), we are separated from You. Please show Your Mercy, and unite us with Yourself, Lord. Having grown weary of wandering in the four quarters (and) ten directions (i.e., all sides/everywhere on earth: ਚੁਫੇਰੇ ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ), we have come to Your Sanctuary, Lord (sggs 133).
• ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਦਹ ਦਿਸੇ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥: Chaar kunt dah dise samaahi: (God ) pervades in the four quarters and in the ten directions (sggs 294).
• ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੇਰੀਆ ਦੇਹਿ ਜੀਆ ਆਧਾਰੋ ॥: Khaanee bani tereeaa dehi jeeaa aadhaaro: The four sources of creation, and the power of the Word, are Your making. You give Support to all beings (sggs 580).
• ਚਚੈ ਚਾਰਿ ਵੇਦ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਾਜੇ ਚਾਰੇ ਖਾਣੀ ਚਾਰਿ ਜੁਗਾ ॥: Chachai chaar Ved jin saaje chaare khaanee chaar jugaa: Chacha (Eleventh letter of the Gurmukhi Varanmaalaa—alphabet): (God) created the four Vedas, the four sources of creation, and the four ages (sggs 432).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org