sutra

su·tra  (str)

n.

1. Hinduism Any of various aphoristic doctrinal summaries produced for memorization generally between 500 and 200 b.c. and later incorporated into Hindu literature.

2. also sut·ta (st) Buddhism A scriptural narrative, especially a text traditionally regarded as a discourse of the Buddha.

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[Sanskrit stram, thread, sutra; see sy- in Indo-European roots.]

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sutra [ˈsuːtrə]

n

1. (Non-Christian Religions / Hinduism) Hinduism Sanskrit sayings or collections of sayings on Vedic doctrine dating from about 200 ad onwards

2. (Non-Christian Religions / Hinduism) (modifier) Hinduism

a.  of or relating to the last of the Vedic literary periods, from about 500 to 100 bc the sutra period

b.  of or relating to the sutras or compilations of sutras of about 200 ad onwards

3. (Non-Christian Religions / Buddhism) Buddhism collections of dialogues and discourses of classic Mahayana Buddhism dating from the 2nd to the 6th centuries a.d

[from Sanskrit: list of rules]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

sutra - a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature or a group of aphoristic doctrinal summaries prepared for memorization Sanskrit literature - Hindu literature written in Sanskrit