The Buddha describes the foremost of his bhikkhunī disciples in various categories.
1.235
“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvikānaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ rattaññūnaṁ yadidaṁ mahāpajāpatigotamī.
“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhunī disciples in |experience::lit. knowing nights [rattaññū]| is |Mahāpajāpati Gotamī::Buddha’s foster-mother; first bhikkhunī to ordain [mahāpajāpatigotamī]|.
1.236
… Mahāpaññānaṁ yadidaṁ khemā.
... among those with |great wisdom::profound understanding [mahāpaññā]| is |Khemā::wife of King Bimbisāra; foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in great wisdom [khemā]|.
1.237
… Iddhimantīnaṁ yadidaṁ uppalavaṇṇā.
... among those with |psychic power::supernormal abilities [iddhimant]| is |Uppalavaṇṇā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in psychic power [uppalavaṇṇā]|.
1.238
… Vinayadharānaṁ yadidaṁ paṭācārā.
... among those who are expert in |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]| is |Paṭācārā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in upholding the Vinaya [paṭācārā]|.
1.239
… Dhammakathikānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadinnā.
... among those who speak on the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is |Dhammadinnā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in giving Dhamma discourses [dhammadinnā]|.
1.240
… Jhāyīnaṁ yadidaṁ nandā.
... among those who practice meditation is Nandā.
1.241
… Āraddhavīriyānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇā.
... among those |with energy aroused::with initiative [āraddhavīriya]|, and |determined::resolute, applying oneself [pahitatta]| is Soṇā.
1.242
… Dibbacakkhukānaṁ yadidaṁ bakulā.
... among those with |divine eye::the faculty of clairvoyance, the ability to see beyond the ordinary human range [dibbacakkhu]| is |Bakulā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in divine eye [bakulā]|.
1.243
… Khippābhiññānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kuṇḍalakesā.
... among those who |quickly attain direct knowledge::with quick realization [khippābhiñña]| is Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā.
1.244
… Pubbenivāsaṁ anussarantīnaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kāpilānī.
... among those who recollect their past lives is |Bhaddā Kāpilānī::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in recollecting past lives [bhaddākāpilānī]|.
1.245
… Mahābhiññāpattānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddakaccānā.
... among those who have attained |great direct knowledge::recollection of more than one hundred thousand aeons of previous existences [mahāabhiññā]| is |Bhadda Kaccānā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in great direct knowledge; another name for Rāhula’s mother, Yasodharā [bhaddakaccānā]|.
1.246
… Lūkhacīvaradharānaṁ yadidaṁ kisāgotamī.
... among those who wear coarse robes is Kisāgotamī.
1.247
… Saddhādhimuttānaṁ yadidaṁ siṅgālakamātā”ti.
... among those unwavering in confidence is Siṅgālakamātā.”
1.235
“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhunī disciples in |experience::lit. knowing nights [rattaññū]| is |Mahāpajāpati Gotamī::Buddha’s foster-mother; first bhikkhunī to ordain [mahāpajāpatigotamī]|.
1.236
... among those with |great wisdom::profound understanding [mahāpaññā]| is |Khemā::wife of King Bimbisāra; foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in great wisdom [khemā]|.
1.237
... among those with |psychic power::supernormal abilities [iddhimant]| is |Uppalavaṇṇā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in psychic power [uppalavaṇṇā]|.
1.238
... among those who are expert in |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]| is |Paṭācārā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in upholding the Vinaya [paṭācārā]|.
1.239
... among those who speak on the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| is |Dhammadinnā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in giving Dhamma discourses [dhammadinnā]|.
1.240
... among those who practice meditation is Nandā.
1.241
... among those |with energy aroused::with initiative [āraddhavīriya]|, and |determined::resolute, applying oneself [pahitatta]| is Soṇā.
1.242
... among those with |divine eye::the faculty of clairvoyance, the ability to see beyond the ordinary human range [dibbacakkhu]| is |Bakulā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in divine eye [bakulā]|.
1.243
... among those who |quickly attain direct knowledge::with quick realization [khippābhiñña]| is Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā.
1.244
... among those who recollect their past lives is |Bhaddā Kāpilānī::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in recollecting past lives [bhaddākāpilānī]|.
1.245
... among those who have attained |great direct knowledge::recollection of more than one hundred thousand aeons of previous existences [mahāabhiññā]| is |Bhadda Kaccānā::foremost bhikkhunī of the Buddha in great direct knowledge; another name for Rāhula’s mother, Yasodharā [bhaddakaccānā]|.
1.246
... among those who wear coarse robes is Kisāgotamī.
1.247
... among those unwavering in confidence is Siṅgālakamātā.”
“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvikānaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ rattaññūnaṁ yadidaṁ mahāpajāpatigotamī.
… Mahāpaññānaṁ yadidaṁ khemā.
… Iddhimantīnaṁ yadidaṁ uppalavaṇṇā.
… Vinayadharānaṁ yadidaṁ paṭācārā.
… Dhammakathikānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadinnā.
… Jhāyīnaṁ yadidaṁ nandā.
… Āraddhavīriyānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇā.
… Dibbacakkhukānaṁ yadidaṁ bakulā.
… Khippābhiññānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kuṇḍalakesā.
… Pubbenivāsaṁ anussarantīnaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddā kāpilānī.
… Mahābhiññāpattānaṁ yadidaṁ bhaddakaccānā.
… Lūkhacīvaradharānaṁ yadidaṁ kisāgotamī.
… Saddhādhimuttānaṁ yadidaṁ siṅgālakamātā”ti.