The Buddha describes the eight individuals—the stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry, the once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return, the non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return, and the perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection.

AN 8.60 Eight Individuals (2nd)

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, puggalā āhuneyyā …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katame aṭṭha? Sotāpanno, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā, arahattāya paṭipanno. Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puggalā āhuneyyā …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.

Cattāro ca paṭipannā,
cattāro ca phale ṭhitā;
Esa saṅgho samukkaṭṭho,
sattānaṁ aṭṭha puggalā.

Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ,
puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ;
Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ,
ettha dinnaṁ mahapphalan”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Gotamīvaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Gotamī ovādaṁ saṅkhittaṁ,
dīghajāṇu ca ujjayo;
Bhayā dve āhuneyyā ca,
dve ca aṭṭha puggalāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, puggalā āhuneyyā …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

“Mendicants, these eight individuals are worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and are the supreme field of merit for the world.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Sotāpanno, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā, arahattāya paṭipanno.

The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puggalā āhuneyyā …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.

These are the eight individuals who are worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and are the supreme field of merit for the world.

Cattāro ca paṭipannā,

Four practicing the path,

cattāro ca phale ṭhitā;

and four established in the fruit.

Esa saṅgho samukkaṭṭho,

This is the exalted Saṅgha,

sattānaṁ aṭṭha puggalā.

the eight individuals among sentient beings.

Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ,

For humans, those merit-seeking creatures,

puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ;

who sponsor sacrifices,

Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ,

making worldly merit,

ettha dinnaṁ mahapphalan”ti.

what’s given here is very fruitful.”

Dasamaṁ.

Gotamīvaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Gotamī ovādaṁ saṅkhittaṁ,

dīghajāṇu ca ujjayo;

Bhayā dve āhuneyyā ca,

dve ca aṭṭha puggalāti.

Qualities:

Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026