Sutra, Sūtra: 42 definitions

Introduction:

Sutra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu Purāna

Sūtra (सूत्र)—One of the Heavenly ornaments according to the Vāyu Purāṇa. The neck of Śiva, after he had swallowed the poison, shone as if it was adorned with a golden thread.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Sūtra (सूत्र).—(VEDASŪTRA). See under Veda.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Sūtra (सूत्र).—(ety)—definition of: few letters, free from doubt, terse, and universal.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 59. 142; 104. 108.
Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Sūtra (सूत्र, “thread”) refers to a “golden neck-chain” and is classified as an ornament (ābharaṇa) for the neck (kaṇṭha) to be worn by males, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. Such ornaments for males should be used in cases of gods and kings.

Sūtra (सूत्र) also refers to a “golden thread” ornament (ābharaṇa) for the waist (kaṭi) to be worn by males. It is to be worn below the talaka.

Sūtra (सूत्र) also refers to a “neck-chain” ornament (ābharaṇa) for the neck (kaṇṭha) to be worn by females. Such ornaments for females should be used in cases of human females and celestial beings (gods and goddesses).

Ābharaṇa (‘ornaments’, eg., sūtra) is a category of alaṃkāra, or “decorations”, which in turn is a category of nepathya, or “costumes and make-up”, the perfection of which forms the main concern of the Āhāryābhinaya, or “extraneous representation”, a critical component for a successful dramatic play.

Natyashastra book cover
context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)

Source: Srimatham: Mīmāṃsa: The Study of Hindu Exegesis

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to one of the three principle styles found in Sanskrit literature.—Sūtra is a very terse form of writing in which there is no embellishment. The sentence consists of few words and no narrative, explanation or dilation. They were meant for easy memorization by students and depended upon the commentary given by learned scholars.

The sūtras require extensive commentaries and because of their ambivalence can be interpreted in a number of different ways. To this category belong all the texts of the various schools of philosophy, Mīmāṃsa-sūtras, Yoga-sūtras, Vaiśeṣika-sutras, Dharma-sūtras, Gṛhya-sūtras etc.

Mimamsa book cover
context information

Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.

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Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaiyākaraṇabhūṣaṇasāra: a critical study

Sūtra (सूत्र).—Aphorism; a very short and concise enunciation laying down something in a scientific treatise.

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Sūtra (सूत्र).—A short pithy assertion laying down something in a scientific treatise; aphorism; the word is sometimes used in a collective sense in the singular, referring to the whole collection of Sutras or rules; cf. व्याकरणस्य सूत्रम् (vyākaraṇasya sūtram) M. Bh. on Ahnika 1. The term is defined as अल्पाक्षरमसंदिग्धं सारवद्विश्वतोमुखम् । अस्तो-भमनवद्यं च सूत्रं सूत्रविदो विदुः (alpākṣaramasaṃdigdhaṃ sāravadviśvatomukham | asto-bhamanavadyaṃ ca sūtraṃ sūtravido viduḥ). There are given generally six kinds of Sutras viz. संज्ञासूत्र, परिभाषासूत्र,विधिसूत्र, नियमसूत्र, प्रतिषेधसूत्र (saṃjñāsūtra, paribhāṣāsūtra, vidhisūtra, niyamasūtra, pratiṣedhasūtra) and अधिकारसूत्र (adhikārasūtra); cf. also संज्ञा च परिभाषा च विधिर्नियम एव च प्रतिषेधोधि-कारश्च षड्विधम् सूत्रलक्षणम् ॥ (saṃjñā ca paribhāṣā ca vidhirniyama eva ca pratiṣedhodhi-kāraśca ṣaḍvidham sūtralakṣaṇam ||) Com. on Kat. I. 1.2.

Vyakarana book cover
context information

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Sūtra (सूत्र).—A rule or algorithm; (lit., thread). Note: Sūtra is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of Sriharsa

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to an “indication” or a “prelude”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 16.15.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to “decorative cords”, as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—The Āgamas and Śilpa-works pay more attention to several type of bands or bandhas (kūcabandha, stanabandha, kaṭibandha, udarabandha), threads or sūtras (including the sacred cord yajñasūtra, kaṭisūtra, urassūtra/ plambasūtra etc.), girdles, strings and belts which adorn the torso (like the channavīra cross-belt), the waist and hip (mekhalā, ūrudāma, kañcīdāma etc.) down to the thighs. According to Bharata, variety of garlands set with jewels and made with artistic perfection are the ornaments of chest and jewelled strings are embellishment for the breast.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)

Source: Shodhganga: Drumavichitrikarnam—Plant mutagenesis in ancient India

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to a “thread (for tying together)” (the bulbs of Nymphaea), as prescribed by certain bio-organical recipes for plant mutagenesis, according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly, “If bulbs of various species of Nymphaea are uprooted tied together firmly with threads (sūtra), smeared with melted butter and honey and then planted they produce those respective species in bunches (on a single creeper). Similarly several wonders of transformation can be worked out by tying together the stems of Nerium indicum and those of various species of Punica granatum”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Sūtra (सूत्र):—[sūtraṃ] Precised form of text; Aphorism

Ayurveda book cover
context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Sūtra (सूत्र) (or Tantu) refers to the Śaktitantu (“cord of power”), according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—[The padmamālā-vidhi prescribes installing deities within series of nine, seven and eight lotuses].—What renders the lotuses into garlands is the thread which binds them. The  Brahmayāmala first introduces this idea in presenting the second garland (that of the Yoginīs), describing the lotuses as “bound together by the cord of śakti, like gems [strung] by a cord”. The terms utilized are śaktitantu and śaktisūtra, meaning, respectively, a thread or a cord of śakti. This divine power binding the lotuses together is consubstantial with the supreme Goddess herself, the Nine-Syllable Vidyā whose being encompasses the deities of the maṇḍala.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

1) Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to a “cord” (of bound pearls), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 2.20-22ab]—“[The Mantrin] should worship the mother of Mantras with the highest bhakti, by spreading flowers and perfume, O Devī. He should extract the deity invoked by the Mantra [with the mantra]. Beginning with the all-pervading and ending with manifold [oṃ], [he should] always [worship with] the nectar of the white flower. The bright sound is highest Śakti, [who] resembles one-in-the-same Śiva. By this [worship] the pearls [of the mantra] are all bound in a cord (sūtragrathitaṃ sarvaṃ sūtre)”.

2) Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to the “threads (of the bonds)”, according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on the Netratantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.4.5ab]—“[First of all, [the Mantrin] attaches the threads of the bonds (pāśa-sūtra) to the disciple’s body, then infuses the parts [of the body into that thread]. Then [the Mantrin] respectfully approaches the path (adhvan), and [performs] worship and homa to the [six] adhvans. Then, [he] visualizes the three bonds [inside the adhvans]. Then [the Mantrin performs] such rituals as the installation [of] the śakti, which is the support of everything else”.

Shaivism book cover
context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Kama-shastra (the science of Love-making)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (kama)

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to “yarns” or “threads”.—Cf. Sūtrakrīḍā which refers to “making models from yarns or threads”, representing one of the “sixty four kinds of Art”, according to the Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa.—Indian tradition, basically includes sixty four Art forms are acknowledged. The references of sixty four kinds of kalā are found in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa, Śaiva-Tantras, Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa etc.

Kamashastra book cover
context information

Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to the “thread (of the breath)”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] When the wings, which are the in and out breaths and whose sphere of operation is all the senses, are cut off, the mind-bird being motionless [in the air], plummets. [The Yogin] becomes joyful like a fish having torn [free from] the mind-net, whose threads are the breath (śvāsa-sūtra) and whose knots are the senses. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Sūtra (सूत्र) has the sense of ‘thread’ in the Atharvaveda and later. In the sense of a ‘ book of rules ’ for the guidance of sacrifices and so forth, the word occurs in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad (ii. 4. 10).

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Sūtra: A text in Hinduism or Buddhism. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew, as does the medical term "suture." The word "sutra" was very likely meant to apply quite literally to these texts, as they were written down in books of palm leaves sewn together with thread. This distinguishes them from the older sacred Vedas, which until recently were only memorised, never committed to paper.

In ancient Indian literature, sutra denotes a distinct type of literary composition, based on short aphoristic statements, generally using various technical terms.

In Jainism, sūtra refers to canonical sermons of the Mahavira contained in the Jain Agamas, and to some later (post-canonical) normative texts.

In Buddhism, the sūtra refers mostly to canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings of Gautama Buddha.

etymology: Sūtra (Sanskrit: सूत्र, Pāli: sutta, Ardhamagadhi: sūya).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to one of the twelve members of Buddhist texts (dvādaśāṅga), according to a note attached to the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 51.—Among these texts, those that correctly (sūcanatas) express the meaning are called sūtra. These are:

  1. the four Āgamas,
  2. the Mahāyānasūtras,
  3. the 250 rules (śikṣāpada).

And, apart from the Tripiṭaka, there are also texts that are called sūtras.

Sūtra is the name of the sacred texts found in the four Āgamas (āgamacatuṣṭaya) and the name of the sacred texts found in the Mahāyāna. The sūtras are of two groups: the sūtras contained in the four Āgamas and the Mahāyānsūtras called Great Sūtras. To penetrate into these two groups is to penetrate into the Greater and Lesser Vehicles also. The 250 precepts (śikṣāpada) and similar texts are called ‘sūtra’.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Sūtra (सूत्र) [=sūtraka?] refers to a “(five-fold) twine” (suitable for an offering ritual), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering of the root spell], “[...] Four stakes made of khadira wood should be driven into the ground in the four corners of the maṇḍala. This [space] should be encircled with five-coloured five-fold twine (sūtra). Having recited twenty-one times everywhere, a rite should be performed. [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to the “sacred thread” and represents one of the five auspicious symbols of Nairātmā.—The Indian Museum image is the only image of this goddess [Nairātmā] which conforms to the description given in the sādhana. Here the goddess, in accordance with the Dhyāna, has a terrible appearance with canine teeth, garland of heads and three eyes rolling in anger. She stands on the corpse lying on its back, and dances in the ardhaparyaṅka attitude. Burning flames radiate from her person, and her hair rise upwards in the shape of a flame. She is decked in the five auspicious symbols, the kaṇṭhikā (torque), rucaka (bracelets), ratna (jewels), mekhalā (girdle), and bhasma (ashes) or the sūtra (sacred thread) in the form of a garland of heads. She bears the image of her sire Akṣobhya on her crown and carries the menacing kartri in the right hand. The left hand holding the kapāla is broken. The khaṭvāṅga, as usual, hangs from her left shoulder.

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Sūtra (सूत्र) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Sūtrikā forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Cittacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the cittacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the nirmāṇa-puṭa (‘emanation layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Sūtra] are black in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Sūtra (सूत्र, “discourses”) refers to one of the “nine (types of) teachings” (sūtra) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 62). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., sūtra). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Sutra:—A teaching or book

Source: Shambala Publications: General

Sūtra Skt., lit., “thread”; (Pali, sutta; Jap., kyō); discourses of the Buddha. The sūtras are collected in the second part of the Buddhist canon, the Sūtra-pitaka, or “Basket of the Teachings.” According to tradition they derive directly from the Buddha. The sūtras are prose texts, each introduced by the words “Thus have I heard.” These words are ascribed to Ānanda, a student of the Buddha.

The Hīnayāna sūtras are divided into “collec­tions,” which in the Pali canon are called Nikāyas and in the Sanskrit version, Agamas. The Nikāyas are the Dīgha-nikāya, Majjhima-nikāya, Samyutta-nikāya, Anguttara-nikāya, and Khuddaka-nikāya. Along with these Hīnayāna sūtras, a great number of Mahāyāna sūtras have also been pre­served. They were originally composed in San­skrit but are for the most part extant only in Chi­nese or Tibetan translations. They are thought to have been composed between the 1st century BCE and the 6th century CE.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Sūtra (सूत्र) refers to one of the five parts of Dṛṣṭivāda: one of the twelve limbs of the internal-corpus (aṅga-praviṣṭa). The Aṅgapraviṣṭa refers to one of the two types of scriptural knowledge (śruta), which refers to one of the five types of knowledge (jñāna). according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 1.20, “scriptural knowledge (śruta) preceded by sensory knowledge (mati) is of two, or of twelve (e.g., dṛṣṭivāda) or of many kinds”.

How may sub divisions are there of Sūtra and Prathāmanuyoga? There is only one type /part of both Sūtra and Prathāmanuyoga.

General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Sūtra.—(IA 20), a manual of religious rituals, etc. (HRS), royal receipts collected by the superintendent of weaving, as suggested by the Arthaśāstra. (IE 3-1), same as śarayantraka; the string holding the leaves of a manuscript together (Vāsavadatta, Hall's ed., p. 250). Note: sūtra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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Sūtra.—(PJS), abbreviation of Sūtradhāra, a mason. Note: sūtra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

sutrā (सुत्रा).—& sutrī a Better sūtrā.

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sūtra (सूत्र).—n (S) A thread in general, any string, line, fibre, or filament. 2 The string or wire of a puppet, doll &c.; and, hence, the art, trick, mystery, knack, key, spring, turning pin (of an ingenious piece of mechanism, or a complicate and intricate business); the scheme or plan of its construction; the manner of its operation; the moving or managing principle &c.: also, for manasūtra, the inclining or working of the mind; the mental tendencies or the will. 3 The rule, law, canon; the system of instructions and directions; the process or line of procedure; as prescribed or as necessary to be observed for the accomplishment or conduct of a business or work. 4 A rule or precept (in morals or science); a short, obscure, and technical sentence, enjoining some observance in law or religion, or expressing some rule in grammar, logic, or other science. In both cases, the sutra is the fundamental and primitive part of Hindu learning, and is the form in which the works of the early writers appear. 5 An opinion or a decree in law. 6 A string; a collection of threads (as that worn over the shoulder by the three first classes).

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sūtrā (सूत्रा) [or सूत्री, sūtrī].—a The same with sūtraka q. v. supra; but sūtrā being more definitely Prakrit, and determined somewhat by the Hindustani has the further sense of Clever, expert, adroit, skilful, sharp, smart, apt &c.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

sūtra (सूत्र).—n A thread. The key. A rule. A string.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र).—[sūtr-ac]

1) A thread, string, line, cord; पुष्पमालानुषङ्गेण सूत्रं शिरसि धार्यते (puṣpamālānuṣaṅgeṇa sūtraṃ śirasi dhāryate) Subhās.; मणौ वज्रसमुत्कीर्णे सूत्रस्येवास्ति मे गतिः (maṇau vajrasamutkīrṇe sūtrasyevāsti me gatiḥ) R.1.4.

2) A fibre; सुराङ्गना कर्षति खण्डिताग्रात् सूत्रं मृणालादिव राजहंसी (surāṅganā karṣati khaṇḍitāgrāt sūtraṃ mṛṇālādiva rājahaṃsī) V.1.18; Kumārasambhava 1.4.

3) A wire.

4) A collection of threads.

5) The sacred thread or sacrificial cord worn by members of the first three classes; शिखासूत्रवान् ब्राह्मणः (śikhāsūtravān brāhmaṇaḥ) Tarka K.; विप्रत्वे सूत्रमेव हि (vipratve sūtrameva hi) Bhāgavata 12.2.3.

6) The string or wire of a puppet.

7) A short rule or precept, an aphorism.

8) A short or concise technical sentence used as a memorial rule; it is thus defined:-स्वल्पाक्षरमसंदिग्धं सारवद् विश्वतोमुखम् । अस्तोभमनवद्यं च सूत्रं सूत्रविदो विदुः (svalpākṣaramasaṃdigdhaṃ sāravad viśvatomukham | astobhamanavadyaṃ ca sūtraṃ sūtravido viduḥ).

9) Any work or manual containing such aphoristic rules; e. g. मानवकल्पसूत्र, आपस्तम्बसूत्र, गृह्यसूत्र (mānavakalpasūtra, āpastambasūtra, gṛhyasūtra) &c.

1) A rule, canon, decree (in law).

11) A girdle; वासः ससूत्रं लघुमारुतोऽहरद् भवस्य देवस्य किलानुपश्यतः (vāsaḥ sasūtraṃ laghumāruto'harad bhavasya devasya kilānupaśyataḥ) Bhāgavata 8.12.23.

12) A line, stroke.

13) A sketch, plan; त्वमेव धर्मार्थदुघाभिपत्तये दक्षेण सूत्रेण ससर्जिथा- ध्वरम् (tvameva dharmārthadughābhipattaye dakṣeṇa sūtreṇa sasarjithā- dhvaram) Bhāgavata 4.6.44.

14) Indication, prelude; विशङ्क्य सूत्रं पुरुषायितस्य तद् भविष्यतोऽस्मायि तदा तदालिभिः (viśaṅkya sūtraṃ puruṣāyitasya tad bhaviṣyato'smāyi tadā tadālibhiḥ) N.16.15.

Derivable forms: sūtram (सूत्रम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र).—nt. (also sūtrānta, q.v.), (1) (= Pali sutta) discourse, as a type of Buddhist sacred text (pravacana), one of twelve, Mahāvyutpatti 1267, or nine, Dharmasaṃgraha 62; (2) also = sūtra-piṭaka, q.v. (= Pali sutta-piṭaka), the (collection of) discourses, one of the three grand divisions of the Buddhist canon: Mahāvyutpatti 1412; Divyāvadāna 333.7; sūtravinayābhi- dharmeṇa Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 290.8.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र).—n.

(-traṃ) 1. A thread in general. 2. A rule, a precept, in morals or science; a short, obscure, and technical sentence, enjoying some observance in law or religion, or intimating some rule in grammar, logic, &c.; in each case it is the fundamental and primitive part of Hindu learning, and is the form in which the works of the early and supposed inspired writers appear; the ingenuity and labour of subsequent authors having expanded and explained the original Sutras in various commentaries and glosses. 3. An opinion or decree, (in law.) 4. A string, a collection of threads, as that worn by the three first classes, &c. 5. The string or wire of a puppet. 6. A fibre. E. ṣiv to sew, ṣṭran Unadi aff., and iva changed to ū; or sūtra to string, ac aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र).—i. e. siv + tra, n. 1. A thread, [Hitopadeśa] 65, 13. 2. Fibre, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 19. 3. A string, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 140; the holy string, [distich] 157. 4. A rule in morals or science, a short aphorism, e. g. the rules of Pāṇini. 5. An opinion or decree in law.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र).—[neuter] thread, cord, [especially] the sacred cord worn by the first three classes; string, wire; line, brief rule or a book of such rules.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Sūtra (सूत्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[anonymous] Oppert. 4673.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Sūtra (सूत्र):—[from sūtr] n. ([according to] to [gana] ardhacādi also m.; [from] √siv, ‘to sew’, and connected with sūci and sūnā) a thread, yarn, string, line, cord, wire, [Atharva-veda] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] a measuring line (cf. -pāta), [Harivaṃśa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] the sacred thread or cord worn by the first three classes (cf. yajñopavīta), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) [v.s. ...] a girdle, [ib.]

5) [v.s. ...] a fibre, [Kālidāsa]

6) [v.s. ...] a line, stroke, [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Golādhyāya]

7) [v.s. ...] a sketch, plan, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

8) [v.s. ...] that which like a thread runs through or holds together everything, rule, direction, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

9) [v.s. ...] a short sentence or aphoristic rule, and any work or manual consisting of strings of such rules hanging together like threads (these Sūtra works form manuals of teaching in ritual, philosophy, grammar etc.: e.g. in ritual there are first the Śrauta-sūtras, and among them the Kalpa-sūtras, founded directly on Śruti q.v.; they form a kind of rubric to Vedic ceremonial, giving concise rules for the performance of every kind of sacrifice [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 146 etc.]; other kinds of Ś° works are the Gṛhya-sūtras and Sāmayācārika or Dharma-sūtras id est. ‘rules for domestic ceremonies and conventional customs’, sometimes called collectively Smārta-sūtras [as founded on smṛti or ‘tradition’ See smārta]; these led to the later Dharmaśāstras or ‘law-books’ [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 145]; in philosophy each system has its regular text-book of aphorisms written in Sūtras by its supposed founder [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 60 etc.]; in Vyākaraṇa or grammar there are the celebrated Sūtras of Pāṇini in eight books, which are the groundwork of a vast grammatical literature; with Buddhists, Pāśupatas etc. the term Sūtra is applied to original text books as opp. to explanatory works; with Jainas they form part of the Dṛṣṭivāda), [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 162 etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] a kind of tree, [Divyāvadāna]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Sūtra (सूत्र):—(kat) sūtrayati 10. a. To thread, string.

2) (traṃ) 1. n. A thread, a Brāhmanical thread; a line; verse, text; rule; decree of law.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Sūtra (सूत्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sutta.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sutra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Sūtra (सूत्र):—(nm) a thread, yarn, fibre; source; aphorism; formula; sacred thread ([janeū; ~kartā]) a composer of aphorism (of philosophy, grammar, etc.); ~[dhāra] the stage manager (in a dramatic performance); ~[pāta] beginning, commencement: ~[baddha] formulated; integrated; -[śailī] terse style, condensed style.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Sūtra (ಸೂತ್ರ):—

1) [noun] a length of a thread.

2) [noun] a sacrificial thread worn on the left shoulder and under the right arm by brāhmaṇas.

3) [noun] a string or strings used to make the puppets.

4) [noun] a short, pointed sentence or verse expressing a wise, esoteric observation, truth, etc.; an aphorism.

5) [noun] a law, rule or other order prescribed by authority; a regulation.

6) [noun] a controlling or being controlled.

7) [noun] (math.) a symbol for the number two.

8) [noun] ಸೂತ್ರದ ಗೊಂಬೆ [sutrada gombe] sūtrada gombe a puppet or jointed figure moved by pulling the strings attached to it; 2. (fig.) a person whose actions, ideas, etc. are controlled by another; a puppet; ಸೂತ್ರ ಆಡಿಸು [sutra adisu] sūtraāḍisu to pull the strngs manipulatively while playing the dolls on the stage; 2. ( fig.) to direct action of others secretely; ಸೂತ್ರ ಹಿಡಿ [sutra hidi] sūtra hiḍi = ಸೂತ್ರ ಆಡಿಸು [sutra adisu].

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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