sutra

su·tra

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 (so͝otˈə) Buddhism A scriptural narrative, especially a text traditionally regarded as a discourse of the Buddha.

Origin: Sanskrit sūtram, thread, sutra; see syū- in Indo-European roots.