The Buddha teaches on terms for the realized one, presenting a eightfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 8.85 Terms for the Realized One

“‘Samaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Brāhmaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vedagū’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Bhisakko’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Nimmalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vimalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Ñāṇī’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vimutto’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassāti.

Yaṁ samaṇena pattabbaṁ,
brāhmaṇena vusīmatā;
Yaṁ vedagunā pattabbaṁ,
bhisakkena anuttaraṁ.

Yaṁ nimmalena pattabbaṁ,
vimalena sucīmatā;
Yaṁ ñāṇinā ca pattabbaṁ,
vimuttena anuttaraṁ.

Sohaṁ vijitasaṅgāmo,
mutto mocemi bandhanā;
Nāgomhi paramadanto,
asekho parinibbuto”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Samaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

“‘Ascetic’ is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘Brāhmaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Brahmin’,

‘Vedagū’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Knowledge Master’,

‘Bhisakko’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Healer’,

‘Nimmalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Unstained’,

‘Vimalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Immaculate’,

‘Ñāṇī’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

‘Knower’,

‘Vimutto’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassāti.

and ‘Freed’ are terms for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

Yaṁ samaṇena pattabbaṁ,

The supreme should be attained by an ascetic,

brāhmaṇena vusīmatā;

a brahmin who has lived the life;

Yaṁ vedagunā pattabbaṁ,

it should be attained by a knowledge master,

bhisakkena anuttaraṁ.

a healer.

Yaṁ nimmalena pattabbaṁ,

The supreme should be attained by the unstained,

vimalena sucīmatā;

stainless and pure;

Yaṁ ñāṇinā ca pattabbaṁ,

it should be attained by a knower,

vimuttena anuttaraṁ.

who is free.

Sohaṁ vijitasaṅgāmo,

I am victorious in battle!

mutto mocemi bandhanā;

Released, I release others from their chains.

Nāgomhi paramadanto,

I am a dragon completely tamed,

asekho parinibbuto”ti.

an adept, I am quenched.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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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