1(235) "Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhunī disciples in seniority is Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī." [n.116] She was the Buddha’s aunt and foster mother. In AN, see AN8.51 (= Vin II 253–56) and AN8.53 (= Vin II 258–59). Her verses are at Thī 157–62, and the story of her passing away at Ap II 529–43.

(236) " … among those with great wisdom is Khemā." [n.117] For a biographical sketch, see Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 263–97. She had been a consort of King Bimbisāra, proud of her beauty, but went forth after the Buddha dispelled her vanity. She gives a discourse at SN 17:24.

(237) " … among those with psychic potency is Uppalavaṇṇā." [n.118] She had been the daughter of a banker of Sāvatthī. Shortly after going forth, she attained arahantship together with the psychic powers. She was raped by a young man but the Buddha declared her faultless because she did not consent to the act. She exchanges words with Māra at SN 5:5, I 131–32. Her verses are at Thī 224–35.

(238) " … among those who uphold the discipline is Paṭācārā." [n.119] Her story is in Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 293–300. Her verses are at Thī 112–16.

(239) " … among speakers on the Dhamma is Dhammadinnā." [n.120] She teaches her former husband in MN 44 and has a verse at Thī 12.

(240) " … among meditators is Nandā." [n.121] Also known as Sundarīnandā because of her beauty, she was the Buddha’s half-sister and the full sister of Nanda. Her story is in Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 282–85. She has verses at Thī 82–86.

(241) " … among those who arouse energy is Soṇā." [n.122] Her story is in Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 279–82. Her verses are at Thī 102–6.

(242) " … among those with the divine eye is Sakulā." [n.123] She was the daughter of a brahmin family of Sāvatthī. Her verses are at Thī 98–101.

(243) " … among those who quickly attain direct knowledge is Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā." [n.124] Her story is in Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 269–73. She had been a wandering ascetic and debater before she met the Buddha. Her verses are at Thī 107–11.

(244) " … among those who recollect past lives is Bhaddā Kāpilānī." [n.125] In lay life she had been the wife of Mahākassapa, but by mutual consent their marriage was never consummated. Her verses are at Thī 63–66.

(245) " … among those who attain great direct knowledge is Bhaddā Kaccānā." [n.126] Mp identifies her as Rāhulamātā, the mother of Rāhula; hence she was the Buddha’s wife, better known in Buddhist tradition by the name Yasodharā.

(246) " … among those who wear coarse robes is Kisāgotamī." [n.127] She is the protagonist in the famous story of the mustard seed. Her biographical sketch is in Nyanaponika and Hecker 2003: 273–78. She has a dialogue with Māra at SN 5:3, I 129–30. Her verses are at Thī 213–23.

(247) " … among those resolved through faith is Sigālamātā." [n.128] She is said to have attained arahantship by giving prominence to the faculty of faith; hence her appointment as foremost of those resolved through faith.

1"Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvikānaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ rattaññūnaṁ yadidaṁ mahāpajāpatigotamī. (1)

2… Mahāpaññānaṁ yadidaṁ khemā. (2)

3… Iddhimantīnaṁ yadidaṁ uppalavaṇṇā. (3)

4… Vinayadharānaṁ yadidaṁ paṭācārā. (4)

5… Dhammakathikānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadinnā. (5)

6… Jhāyīnaṁ yadidaṁ nandā. (6)

7… Āraddhavīriyānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇā. (7)

8… Dibbacakkhukānaṁ yadidaṁ bakulā. (8)

9… Khippābhiññānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kuṇḍalakesā. (9)

10… Pubbenivāsaṁ anussarantīnaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kāpilānī. (10)

11… Mahābhiññāpattānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddakaccānā. (11)

12… Lūkhacīvaradharānaṁ yadidaṁ kisāgotamī. (12)

13… Saddhādhimuttānaṁ yadidaṁ siṅgālakamātā"ti. (13)

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Vaggo pañcamo.