The Buddha describes the foremost of his bhikkhu disciples in various categories.

AN 1.188-197  Etadagga Paṭhama vagga - The Chapter on the Foremost (First)

1.188

“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ rattaññūnaṁ yadidaṁ aññāsikoṇḍañño.

“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhu disciples in |experience::lit. knowing nights [rattaññū]| is |Aññāsi Koṇḍañña::first person to realize the Buddha’s teaching; lit. Koṇḍañña understood [aññāsikoṇḍañña]|.

1.189

Mahāpaññānaṁ yadidaṁ sāriputto.

... among those with |great wisdom::profound understanding [mahāpaññā]| is |Sāriputta::foremost disciple of the Buddha in great wisdom [sāriputta]|.

1.190

Iddhimantānaṁ yadidaṁ mahāmoggallāno.

... among those with |psychic power::supernormal abilities [iddhimant]| is |Mahāmoggallāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in psychic power; lit. Moggallāna the great [mahāmoggallāna]|.

1.191

Dhutavādānaṁ yadidaṁ mahākassapo.

... among those who advocate ascetic practice is |Mahākassapa::foremost disciple of the Buddha in preaching ascetic practices; lit. Kassapa the great [mahākassapa]|.

1.192

Dibbacakkhukānaṁ yadidaṁ anuruddho.

... among those with |divine eye::the faculty of clairvoyance, the ability to see beyond the ordinary human range [dibbacakkhu]| is |Anuruddha::foremost disciple of the Buddha in divine eye; also a cousin of the Buddha [anuruddha]|.

1.193

Uccākulikānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddiyo kāḷigodhāya putto.

... among |those from eminent families::belonging from families of high rank [uccākulikā]| is Bhaddiya Kāḷigodhāyaputta.

1.194

Mañjussarānaṁ yadidaṁ lakuṇḍaka bhaddiyo.

... among those with |sweet voice::pleasant voice [mañjussara]| is Bhaddiya Lakuṇḍaka.

1.195

Sīhanādikānaṁ yadidaṁ piṇḍolabhāradvājo.

... among those who roar a lion’s roar is Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja.

1.196

Dhammakathikānaṁ yadidaṁ puṇṇo mantāṇiputto.

... among those who speak on the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is |Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta::foremost disciple in giving Dhamma discourses [puṇṇamantāṇiputta]|.

1.197

saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajantānaṁ yadidaṁ mahākaccāno”ti.

... among those who explain the meaning of what has been said in brief is Mahākaccāna.”

1.188

“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhu disciples in |experience::lit. knowing nights [rattaññū]| is |Aññāsi Koṇḍañña::first person to realize the Buddha’s teaching; lit. Koṇḍañña understood [aññāsikoṇḍañña]|.

1.189

... among those with |great wisdom::profound understanding [mahāpaññā]| is |Sāriputta::foremost disciple of the Buddha in great wisdom [sāriputta]|.

1.190

... among those with |psychic power::supernormal abilities [iddhimant]| is |Mahāmoggallāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in psychic power; lit. Moggallāna the great [mahāmoggallāna]|.

1.191

... among those who advocate ascetic practice is |Mahākassapa::foremost disciple of the Buddha in preaching ascetic practices; lit. Kassapa the great [mahākassapa]|.

1.192

... among those with |divine eye::the faculty of clairvoyance, the ability to see beyond the ordinary human range [dibbacakkhu]| is |Anuruddha::foremost disciple of the Buddha in divine eye; also a cousin of the Buddha [anuruddha]|.

1.193

... among |those from eminent families::belonging from families of high rank [uccākulikā]| is Bhaddiya Kāḷigodhāyaputta.

1.194

... among those with |sweet voice::pleasant voice [mañjussara]| is Bhaddiya Lakuṇḍaka.

1.195

... among those who roar a lion’s roar is Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja.

1.196

... among those who speak on the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is |Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta::foremost disciple in giving Dhamma discourses [puṇṇamantāṇiputta]|.

1.197

... among those who explain the meaning of what has been said in brief is Mahākaccāna.”

“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ rattaññūnaṁ yadidaṁ aññāsikoṇḍañño.

Mahāpaññānaṁ yadidaṁ sāriputto.

Iddhimantānaṁ yadidaṁ mahāmoggallāno.

Dhutavādānaṁ yadidaṁ mahākassapo.

Dibbacakkhukānaṁ yadidaṁ anuruddho.

Uccākulikānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddiyo kāḷigodhāya putto.

Mañjussarānaṁ yadidaṁ lakuṇḍaka bhaddiyo.

Sīhanādikānaṁ yadidaṁ piṇḍolabhāradvājo.

Dhammakathikānaṁ yadidaṁ puṇṇo mantāṇiputto.

saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajantānaṁ yadidaṁ mahākaccāno”ti.

Last updated on September 13, 2025

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