---
title: sutra — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sutra» in the school dictionary: A sutra is a holy teaching or text in Buddhism or Hinduism, often a sermon of the Buddha or short wise sayings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sutra

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sutra, learning, short rule, monks, Buddhists, sutras · **What happens:** be, learn, say, remember, chant, believe · **To what, where:** holy teaching, Buddhism, sutra, short rule, that, Hindu · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sutra» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [sutra in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sutra.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: religion — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sutra is a holy teaching or text in Buddhism or Hinduism, often a sermon of the Buddha or short wise sayings.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:m1:1
# text = A sutra is a holy teaching or text in Buddhism or Hinduism, often a sermon of the Buddha or short wise sayings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sutra	sutra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	holy	holy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Buddhism	Buddhism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	Hinduism	Hinduism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Buddha	Buddha	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
22	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	sayings	saying	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sutra | a holy teaching or text and a sermon of the Buddha or short wise sayings |  | Buddhism or Hinduism |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Hindu learning a sutra can also be a short rule or saying that is easy to remember.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:m2:1
# text = In Hindu learning a sutra can also be a short rule or saying that is easy to remember.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Hindu	Hindu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
3	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sutra	sutra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
7	also	also	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	obj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | gerund |  | a sutra |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sutra=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | can | learning | a short rule |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | learning *not said here* | that |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent that=Topic |
| 4 | **is** | present | a short rule |  |  | Hindu |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **remember** | to-infinitive | a short rule *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The monks chanted a sutra in the temple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:x1:1
# text = The monks chanted a sutra in the temple.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chanted	chant	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sutra	sutra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	temple	temple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chant** | past | the monks | a sutra |  | the temple |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sutra=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buddhists believe the sutras record the Buddha's teachings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:x2:1
# text = Buddhists believe the sutras record the Buddha's teachings.
1	Buddhists	buddhist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sutras	sutra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	record	record	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Buddha	Buddha	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	teachings	teaching	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Buddhists |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **record** | present | the sutras | the Buddha's teachings |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teaching=Theme |
| 3 | **teach** |  | the Buddha |  |  |  |  |  | nom teaching «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Heart Sutra is very short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:x3:1
# text = The Heart Sutra is very short.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Heart	Heart	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Sutra	Sutra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Heart Sutra |  |  |  |  | short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned that «sutra» comes from a Sanskrit word meaning thread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:x4:1
# text = We learned that «sutra» comes from a Sanskrit word meaning thread.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	sutra	sutra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Sanskrit	Sanskrit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | present | sutra |  |  | a Sanskrit word |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from word=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each sutra was copied by hand onto palm leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sutra:x5:1
# text = Each sutra was copied by hand onto palm leaves.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	sutra	sutra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	copied	copy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	palm	palm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | past · passive | hand | each sutra |  | palm leaves |  |  | vn transcribe-25.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Theme onto leaf=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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