सूत्र

See also: सत्र, स्तर, स्त्र, सितारा, स्त्री, संतरा, and सितार

Sanskrit

Etymology

From the root सीव्यति ‎(sīvyati, “to sew”), and connected with सूचि ‎(sūci) and सूना ‎(sūnā). May have the same Indo-European root as English word "suture."

Noun

सूत्र • ‎(sū́tra) n

1. thread, yarn, string, line, cord, wire
2. a measuring line

   सूत्रपात ‎(sū́tra-pāta) — applying the measuring line

3. the sacred thread or cord worn by the first three classes (compare यज्ञोपवीत ‎(yajño-pavīta))
4. a girdle
5. a fibre
6. a line, stroke
7. a sketch, plan
8. that which like a thread runs through or holds together everything, rule, direction
9. a short sentence or aphoristic rule, and any work or manual consisting of strings of such rules; hanging together like threads; or, alternatively, written on palm leaves which are strung together sutra
10. a kind of tree

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of सूत्र
Nom. sg.	सूत्रम् ‎(sūtram)
Gen. sg.	सूत्रस्य ‎(sūtrasya)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	सूत्रम् ‎(sūtram)	सूत्रे ‎(sūtre)	सूत्राणि ‎(sūtrāṇi)
Vocative	सूत्र ‎(sūtra)	सूत्रे ‎(sūtre)	सूत्राणि ‎(sūtrāṇi)
Accusative	सूत्रम् ‎(sūtram)	सूत्रे ‎(sūtre)	सूत्राणि ‎(sūtrāṇi)
Instrumental	सूत्रेण ‎(sūtreṇa)	सूत्राभ्याम् ‎(sūtrābhyām)	सूत्रैः ‎(sūtraiḥ)
Dative	सूत्रा ‎(sūtrā)	सूत्राभ्याम् ‎(sūtrābhyām)	सूत्रेभ्यः ‎(sūtrebhyaḥ)
Ablative	सूत्रात् ‎(sūtrāt)	सूत्राभ्याम् ‎(sūtrābhyām)	सूत्रेभ्यः ‎(sūtrebhyaḥ)
Genitive	सूत्रस्य ‎(sūtrasya)	सूत्रयोः ‎(sūtrayoḥ)	सूत्राणाम् ‎(sūtrāṇām)
Locative	सूत्रे ‎(sūtre)	सूत्रयोः ‎(sūtrayoḥ)	सूत्रेषु ‎(sūtreṣu)

References

• Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1898) A Sanskrit-English dictionary etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 1241