Gāthā

A portion of the Tipitaka classified according to the matter (anga) of each one.

It includes the Dhammapada, the Theragāthā and Therīgāthā, and those suttas, composed of stanzas only, found in the Sutta Nipāta and not included under the term Sutta. DA.i.23f; Vin.iii.8.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

gāthā

A Sanskrit term for a religious verse or stanza, especially, but not only, of praise. Many Mahāyāna sūtras are composed entirely in such verses or else incorporate lengthy verse portions repeating and summarizing teachings previously given in prose.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)