A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c11.63

c11.63

The word *sutta* has several Saṃskṛta equivalents such as *supta*, *śruta*, *sūkta*, *sūtra*, *śrotra* and *srotas*. Out of these the last two are here, out of question. And so is the 1st meaning of *sūtra* out of 3 viz. (i) a prologue of a drama (vide *Moharājaya* 48), (ii) a scripture (vide *Ṭhāṇa* iv, 4) and (iii) a thread. The meaning 'thread' is acceptable; for, it can be construed as a thread of tradition—the tradition preserved and perpetuated by a succession of *Tīrthaṅkaras*.