sutraukta

Sutraukta is a term found in scholarly discussions of Indian philosophy, linguistics, and ritual literature. It is formed from two Sanskrit words: sutra, meaning a thread, line, or concise aphorism, and ukta, meaning stated or said. Thus, sutraukta literally means “stated in the sutras” or “as the sutras say.”

In use, sutraukta generally refers to content that is originally and succinctly expressed within sutras—the compact rules, observations, or propositions that constitute a system of thought or grammar. The concept serves to distinguish what is presented directly in the sutras from elaborations, interpretations, or clarifications found in later commentaries, bhāṣyas, vṛttis, or scholastic debates. As a descriptive expression, sutraukta emphasizes the authority and compactness of the sutras themselves rather than the expansions that scholars provide.

The term is not always treated as a formal technical label with a fixed definition across all schools, but rather as a convenient way to discuss the difference between sutra text and the surrounding exegetical material. It is applicable in discussions of various Indian linguistic schools (such as Panini’s grammar) as well as in orthodox and heterodox philosophical traditions that employ sutra literature.

Related concepts include sutra, bhāṣya (commentary), vyākaraṇa (grammar), and darśana (philosophical systems). See also discussions on sutra authority, the role of brevity in sutras, and how commentators interpret sutra-utterances.