ABSTRACT

The term sutra (the literal meaning of which is 'thread') is not only used to refer to a scientific text (e.g. Pfu:).ini's grammar or Pataiijali's Yoga Siitraas a whole, it also refers to each of the individual expressions which constitute this text. 1 When our points of departure are Pfu:).ini' s grammar and modern (generative) grammar, it is therefore natural that the siitras which constitute Pfu:).ini' s grammar are associated and equated with grammatical 'rules' .2