# शास्त्र (śāstra) Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/shastra शास्त्र (śāstra) is a Sanskrit word meaning an order, command, precept, or rule, teaching, instruction, direction, advice, or good counsel, an instruction manual, rulebook, or treatise, a sacred book or religious or scientific scripture, a body of teaching, scripture, or science, an order or command. Its 14 recorded definitions are grouped into 3 contexts, among them Scholarly/Sacred Text, Treatise, or Book, Body of Knowledge, Science, or Learning, Authoritative Command, Rule, or Instruction. - **Root:** शास् (śās) - **SLP1:** `SAstra` **IAST:** śāstra **Devanagari:** शास्त्र - **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shastra - **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/shastra/declensions.md - **Other headwords romanised the same way:** शस्त्र (śastra) ## Meanings by context ### Scholarly/Sacred Text, Treatise, or Book (7 definitions) - 1. An instruction manual, rulebook, or treatise. 2. A sacred book or religious or scientific scripture. *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > any instrument of teaching, any manual or compendium of rules, any bock or treatise, ( esp. ) any religious or scientific treatise, any sacred book or composition of divine authority (applicable even to the Veda, and said to be of fourteen or even eighteen kinds [see under विद्या (vidyā) ]; the word शास्त्र (śāstra) is often found ifc. after the word denoting the subject of the book, or is applied collectively to whole departments of knowledge, e.g. वेदा (vedā) न्त - श् (nta-ś) ° (°), a work on the Vedānta philosophy or the whole body of teaching on that subject; धर्म - श् (dharma-ś) ° (°), a law-book or whole body of written laws; काव्य - श् (kāvya-ś) ° (°), a poetical work or poetry in general; शिल्पि - श् (śilpi-ś) ° (°), works on the mechanical arts; काम - श् (kāma-ś) ° (°), erotic compositions; अलंकार श् (alaṃkāra ś) ° (°), rhetoric, &c.), Nirukta, by Yāska (Title); Prātiśākhya (Literary category); Manu-smṛti (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=216352 ] - 1. Command or precept. 2. Instruction, advice, or good counsel. 3. Rule or theory. 4. Compendium, institutes, code, scripture, or scientific work. *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 313-1 ] शास्त्र (śāstra) śās-trá, n. RV.¹, C. : command, precept; C. : instruction, advice, good counsel; rule, theory; compendium, institutes ( of any branch of learning ), code, scientific or canonical work, scripture; learning ( rare ): -kāra, -kṛt, m. author of a treatise; -gañja, m. N. of a parrot; -cakṣus, a. having authoritative works as eyes ( king ); -jña, a. conversant with the Śāstras, learned; m. specialist; -tas, ad. according to prescribed rules; -darśana, n. mention in an authoritative work: ab. according to prescription; -dṛṣṭa, pp. (seen =) mentioned or prescribed in the treatises, scientific, according to precept or rule; -mati, a. trained, learned; m. specialist; -vat, ad. according to prescribed rules; -varjita, pp. subject to no law; -vāda, m. statement of the treatises; -vādin, m. teacher; -vid, a. conversant with the Śāstras, learned; -atiga, a. offending against the Śāstras; -adhyāpaka, m. teacher; -ananuṣṭhāna, n. neglect of instructive works. [ ID=17826 ] - 1. An order or command. 2. A sacred book or any work. *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 759-b ] शास्त्र (śāstra) ( स्त्रं ) ((straṃ)) 1. n. An order or command; sacred book; any work or book. [ ID=37839 ] - 1. A rule, precept, or institute. 2. A science. 3. A scientific treatise. *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 717-03 ] शास्त्र (śāstra) n. 1. A rule, a precept, an institute; 2. a science, (e.g. काव्यशास्त्र (śāstra) (kāvyaśāstra), वेदांतशास्त्र (śāstra) (vedāṃtaśāstra) &c.), शास्त्र (śāstra) ेष्वकुंठिता बुद्धिः (śāstreṣvakuṃṭhitā buddhiḥ) R. i.9; 3. a scientific treatise, तंत्रैः पंचभिरेतच्चकार सुमनोहरं शास्त्र (śāstra) म् (taṃtraiḥ paṃcabhiretaccakāra sumanoharaṃ śāstram) Panch. i., M. i.58. [ ID=37604 ] - 1. Instruction, precept, or rule. 2. A scientific or canonical work. *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 545 ] शास्त्र (śāstra) n. instruction, precept, rule, theory, a scientific or canonical work. [ ID=32356 ] - 1. Instruction. 2. Rule, theory, or scientific and canonical work. *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 258-a ] śāstrá, n. —1. instruction; —2. rule; theory; compendium (of an art or science); a scientific or canonical work; science, 17 13. [ √śās. ] [ ID=4183 ] - An order, command, rule, precept, institute, religious or scientific treatise, or any sacred book of standard authority. *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 1003-c ] Śāstra, am, n. ‘an instrument of directing or teaching,’ an order, command, rule, precept, institute; religious or scientific treatise, any sacred book or composition of divine or standard authority (applica- ble even to the Veda, and said to be of fourteen or even eighteen kinds, see under vidyā; the word śāstra is often found at the end of a comp. after the word denoting the subject of the book, or applied collectively to whole departments of knowledge, e. g. Vedānta-ś°, a work on the Vedānta philosophy or the whole body of teaching on that subject; dharma-ś°, a law-book or whole body of written laws; kāvya-ś°, a poetical work or poetry in general; śilpi-ś°, works on the mechanical arts; kāma-ś°, erotic compositions; alaṅkāra-ś°, rhetoric, &c.); a book, treatise, body of teaching (in general), scripture, science. —Śāstra-kṛt, t, m. the author of a Śāstra; a writer or author (in general); a Ṛṣi or sage (as the author of sacred works). —Śās- tra-kovida, as, ā, am, skilled in sacred works. —Śāstra-gaṇḍa, as, m. a superficial reader of books; a general reader (= praghaṭā-vid). —Śās- tra-cakṣus, us, n. ‘the eye of science,’ grammer. —Śāstra-cāraṇa, as, ā, am, skilled in the Śāstras, well-versed in sacred works or sciences. —Śāstra- jña, as, ā, am, knowing sacred works, acquainted with the Śāstras; knowing books; a mere theorist. —Śāstrajña-tā, f. or śāstrajña-tva, am, n. know- ledge of sacred works, acquaintance with the Śāstras. —Śāstra-jñāna, am, n. knowledge of sacred works, knowledge derived from the study of the Śāstras. —Śāstra-tattva, am, n. the truth (taught) in sacred works, the truth of the Śāstras. —Śāstratattva-jña, as, ā, am, understanding the truth (as taught in) sacred works; ( as ), m. an astronomer, astrologer. —Śāstra-tas, ind. according to the Śāstras, accord- ing to sacred precept or law. —Śāstra-darśin, ī, inī, i, seeing or knowing the Śāstras, skilled in sacred works or sciences. —Śāstra-dīpikā, f., N. of a commentary on the Nyāya-sūtras by Pārtha-sārathi. —Śāstra-dṛṣṭa, as, ā, am, seen in the Śāstras, stated in sacred works or in books treating of any science. —Śāstra-nindā, f. reviling or denying the authority of sacred works. —Śāstra-prasaṅga, as, m. the subject of the Śāstras; the discussion of sacred works. —Śāstra-yoni, is, m. the source of the Śāstras. —Śāstrayoni-tva, am, n. the state of being the source of the Śāstras. —Śāstra-vaktṛ, tā, m. one who expounds sacred books. —1. śāstra- vat, ind. like the sacred writings, conformably or according to written authority. —2. śāstra-vat, ān, atī, at, having or following sacred institutes, skilled Page1004-a+ 79 in sacred writings. —Śāstra-vid, t, t, t, knowing the Śāstras, understanding or conversant with the scriptures, skilled in sacred sciences. —Śāstra-vi- dhāna, am, n. or śāstra-vidhi, is, m. scripture- precept, sacred ritual, ceremonial injunction. —Śās- travidhānokta (°na-uk°), as, ā, am, prescribed by scriptural precept or sacred injunction. —Śāstra- vipratiṣiddha, as, ā, am, forbidden by the Śās- tras, contrary to the scriptures, illegal. —Śāstra-vi- pratiṣedha, as, m. opposition to the Śāstras, any act contrary to sacred precept or scriptural injunction. —Śāstra-vimukha, as, ī, am, disinclined to learn- ing, averse from study. —Śāstra-viruddha, as, ā, am, opposed to the Śāstras, contrary to law or reli- gious precept. —Śāstra-virodha, as, m. opposition to sacred precept; mutual contradiction of books, incompatibility of different works. —Śāstra-vyut- patti, is, f. perfect conversancy with sacred writings. —Śāstra-śilpin, ī, m. the country of Kaśmīra; ( inas ), m. pl. the people of Kaśmīra (commonly called Cashmere). —Śāstra-siddha, as, ā, am, established by the Śāstras, proved by sacred works. —Śāstrācaraṇa (°ra-āc°), am, n. the study of the Śāstras; ( as ), m. one versed in the scriptures or well read in sacred works; a student of the Vedas or one whose conduct is regulated by their precepts; a Pandit. —Śāstrātikrama (°ra-at°), as, m. trans- gressing the Śāstras, violation of sacred precepts. —Śāstrānanuṣṭhāna (°ra-an°), am, n. non- performance of sacred precept, disregard of the authority of religious books. —Śāstrānuṣṭhāna (°ra-an°), am, n. observance of the Śāstras, con- forming to sacred law or ritual; applying one's self to books. —Śāstrānuṣṭhita (°ra-an°), as, ā, am, established or authorized by the Śāstras, obeying or following sacred institutes. —Śāstrānusāra (°ra- an°), as, m. conformity to the Śāstras, following sacred ordinances. —Śāstrābhijña (°ra-abh°), as, ā, am, learned in sacred works, versed in the Śās- tras. —Śāstrārtha (°ra-ar°), as, m. the object or purport of a book, the meaning of a sacred precept, a precept or direction of the Śāstras or of any parti- cular Śāstra, a scriptural statement or dogma. —Śās- trokta (°ra-uk°), as, ā, am, declared or enjoined by the Śāstras, declared in works of sacred authority, said in a book. [ ID=46603 ] ### Body of Knowledge, Science, or Learning (5 definitions) - a body of teaching, scripture, or science *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > a body of teaching (in general), scripture, science, Kāvya literature (Literary category); Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=216353 ] - 1. An order or command. 2. A sacred writing, science, or authoritative treatise. 3. A book in general. *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास (śāsa) ्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 841 ] शास (śāsa) ्त्र (śāstra) n. ( - स्त्रं (-straṃ) ) 1 An order or command. 2 Scripture, science, institutes of religion, law or letters, especially considered as of divine origin or authority: used singly, it implies works of literature or science in general, and it is therefore customarily connected with some other word to limit its application, as the Vedānta Śāstras, or treatises of philosophical theology; the Dharma Śāstras, books of law, &c.: it is also applied to less important branches of knowledge, as the Kāvya Śāstras, or poetical works; Śilpi Śāstras, works on the mechanical arts; and Kāma Śāstras, or erotic compositions; in the singular number it is also used comprehensively to signify the body of all that has been written on the subject, as Dharma Śāstra, the institutes or code of law; Kāvya Śāstra, poetry; Alaṅkāra Śāstra, rhetoric, &c. 3 A book in general. E. शास (śāsa) to govern or teach, aff. ष्ट्रन् (ṣṭran). [ ID=38193 ] - 1. An order or command. 2. Scripture, science, or sacred book. 3. A book in general. *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास् (śās) त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 716-a ] शास् (śās) त्र (śāstra) n. ( - स्त्रं (-straṃ) ) 1. An order or command. 2. Scripture, science, institutes of religion, law or letters, especially considered as of divine origin or authority: when used singly, it implies works of literature or science in general, and it is therefore customarily connected with Page716-b+ 60 some other word to limit its application, as the Vedānta Śhāstras, or treatises of philosophical theology; the Dharma-Śhāstras, books of law, &c.; it is also applied to less important branches of knowledge, as the Kāvya-Śhāstras, or poetical works; ShilpaŚhāstras, works on the mechanical arts; and Kāma-Śhāstras, or erotic compositions; in the singular number it is also used comprehensively to signify the body of all that has been written on the subject, as Dharma-Śhāstras, the institutes or code of law; Kāvya-Śhāstra, poetry; Alankāra-Śhāstra, rhetoric, &c. 3. A book in general. E. शास् (śās) to govern or teach, aff. ष्ट्रन् । (ṣṭran.) [ ID=40028 ] - 1. An order. 2. A precept. 3. Scripture, institutes of religion, law, science, or learning in general. 4. A religious or scientific work, collection, treatise, or book. *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 0945-b ] शास्त्र (śāstra) śās + tra, n. 1. An order. 2. A precept, Pañc. 141, 13. 3. Scrip- ture, institutes of religion, law, science, learning in general, Hit. pr. d. 10, M.M.; Bhartṛ. 2, 12; Chr. 5, 5. 4. A work of religious or scientific ca- racter, Man. 1, 58; Hit. pr. d. 6, M.M.; a collection, a treatise, a book, Pañc. pr. d. 3. — Comp. Calacchāstra, i. e. calant- ( vb. cal ), adj. one whose governing is staggering, unsteady, Lass. 53, 11. Jñāna-, n. a work on soothsaying, Lass. 36, 14. Tarka-, n. logic, MBh. 12, 9678. Dharma-, n. 1. a book treating of duty, Hit. 19, 8, M.M. 2. the body of law, Man. title, 2, 10. Naya- and Nīti-, n. 1. the science of political conduct, Rām. 3, 56, 18; MBh. 1, 5567. 2. works on polity, Pañc. pr. d. 2. Yathā-śāstra + m, adv. as the law ordains, Man. 2, 70. Śabda-, n. rules of grammar, Page0946-a+ 40 Pañc. 4, 17. Haya-, n. art of train- ing or treating horses, Chr. 25, 53. Hetu-, n. a philosophical (= heretical) book, Man. 2, 11. [ ID=14656 ] - sciences recalled by Brahma *The Purana Index* > शास्त्र (śāstra) [Printed book page 3-414 ] Śāstras — sciences of which Purāṇa is the first; recalled by Brahmā. M. 3. 3; 184. 43; 245. 87; Vā. 30. 7; 57-12. [ ID=14379 ] ### Authoritative Command, Rule, or Instruction (2 definitions) - An order, command, precept, or rule. *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > (H2) [Printed book page 1069,1] शास्त्र (śāstra) n. an order, command, precept, rule, Ṛg-veda (Title); Kāvya literature (Literary category); Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=216350 ] - teaching, instruction, direction, advice, or good counsel *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > teaching, instruction, direction, advice, good counsel, Mahābhārata (Title); Kāvya literature (Literary category) &c. [ ID=216351 ] ## Sources Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne. The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546