Shâstra, or SHÂSTER (Sansk. S'âstra, from s'âs, 'to teach'), means literally a book; but the term is especially applied to the authoritative, religious and legal, books of the Hindus.
Shâstra
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 9: Bound to Swansea, p. 375
Source scan(s): p. 0388