The Buddha teaches the four factors of stream-entry—experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and ethical conduct loved by the noble ones—showing how they protect a noble disciple from loss and lead to heaven, regarding nandiya the sakyan.

SN 55.40 Nandiya the Sakyan

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Atha kho nandiyo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nandiyo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“yasseva nu kho, bhante, ariyasāvakassa cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgāni sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ natthi sveva nu kho, bhante, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī”ti.

“‘Yassa kho, nandiya, cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgāni sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ natthi tamahaṁ bāhiro puthujjanapakkhe ṭhito’ti vadāmi. Api ca, nandiya, yathā ariyasāvako pamādavihārī ceva hoti, appamādavihārī ca taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho nandiyo sakko bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Kathañca, nandiya, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī hoti? Idha, nandiya, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. So tena buddhe aveccappasādena santuṭṭho na uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya, rattiṁ paṭisallānāya. Tassa evaṁ pamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ na hoti. Pāmojje asati, pīti na hoti. Pītiyā asati, passaddhi na hoti. Passaddhiyā asati, dukkhaṁ viharati. Dukkhino cittaṁ na samādhiyati. Asamāhite citte dhammā na pātubhavanti. Dhammānaṁ apātubhāvā pamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Puna caparaṁ, nandiya, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. So tehi ariyakantehi sīlehi santuṭṭho na uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya. Tassa evaṁ pamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ na hoti. Pāmojje asati, pīti na hoti. Pītiyā asati, passaddhi na hoti. Passaddhiyā asati, dukkhaṁ viharati. Dukkhino cittaṁ na samādhiyati. Asamāhite citte dhammā na pātubhavanti. Dhammānaṁ apātubhāvā pamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. Evaṁ kho, nandiya, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī hoti.

Kathañca, nandiya, ariyasāvako appamādavihārī hoti? Idha, nandiya, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. So tena buddhe aveccappasādena asantuṭṭho uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya. Tassa evaṁ appamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Samāhite citte dhammā pātubhavanti. Dhammānaṁ pātubhāvā appamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Puna caparaṁ, nandiya, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. So tehi ariyakantehi sīlehi asantuṭṭho uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya. Tassa evaṁ appamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Samāhite citte dhammā pātubhavanti. Dhammānaṁ pātubhāvā appamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. Evaṁ kho, nandiya, ariyasāvako appamādavihārī hotī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Puññābhisandavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Abhisandā tayo vuttā,
duve devapadāni ca;
Sabhāgataṁ mahānāmo,
vassaṁ kāḷī ca nandiyāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Atha kho nandiyo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nandiyo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Nandiya the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“yasseva nu kho, bhante, ariyasāvakassa cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgāni sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ natthi sveva nu kho, bhante, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī”ti.

“Sir, if a noble disciple were to totally and utterly lack the four factors of stream-entry, would they live negligently?”

“‘Yassa kho, nandiya, cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgāni sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ natthi tamahaṁ bāhiro puthujjanapakkhe ṭhito’ti vadāmi.

“Nandiya, someone who totally and utterly lacks these four factors of stream-entry stands outside in the faction of ordinary persons, I say.

Api ca, nandiya, yathā ariyasāvako pamādavihārī ceva hoti, appamādavihārī ca

Neverthless, Nandiya, as to how a noble disciple lives negligently and how they live diligently,

taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho nandiyo sakko bhagavato paccassosi.

“Yes, sir,” Nandiya replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Kathañca, nandiya, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī hoti?

“And how does a noble disciple live negligently?

Idha, nandiya, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

So tena buddhe aveccappasādena santuṭṭho na uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya, rattiṁ paṭisallānāya.

They’re content with that confidence, and don’t make a further effort for solitude by day or retreat by night.

Tassa evaṁ pamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ na hoti.

When they live negligently, there’s no joy.

Pāmojje asati, pīti na hoti.

When there’s no joy, there’s no rapture.

Pītiyā asati, passaddhi na hoti.

When there’s no rapture, there’s no tranquility.

Passaddhiyā asati, dukkhaṁ viharati.

When there’s no tranquility, there’s suffering.

Dukkhino cittaṁ na samādhiyati.

When one is suffering, the mind does not become immersed in samādhi.

Asamāhite citte dhammā na pātubhavanti.

When the mind is not immersed in samādhi, principles do not become clear.

Dhammānaṁ apātubhāvā pamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Because principles have not become clear, they’re reckoned to live negligently.

Puna caparaṁ, nandiya, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching …

saṅghe …pe…

the Saṅgha …

ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.

So tehi ariyakantehi sīlehi santuṭṭho na uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya.

They’re content with that ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, and don’t make a further effort for solitude by day or retreat by night.

Tassa evaṁ pamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ na hoti.

When they live negligently, there’s no joy.

Pāmojje asati, pīti na hoti.

When there’s no joy, there’s no rapture.

Pītiyā asati, passaddhi na hoti.

When there’s no rapture, there’s no tranquility.

Passaddhiyā asati, dukkhaṁ viharati.

When there’s no tranquility, there’s suffering.

Dukkhino cittaṁ na samādhiyati.

When one is suffering, the mind does not become immersed in samādhi.

Asamāhite citte dhammā na pātubhavanti.

When the mind is not immersed in samādhi, principles do not become clear.

Dhammānaṁ apātubhāvā pamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Because principles have not become clear, they’re reckoned to live negligently.

Evaṁ kho, nandiya, ariyasāvako pamādavihārī hoti.

That’s how a noble disciple lives negligently.

Kathañca, nandiya, ariyasāvako appamādavihārī hoti?

And how does a noble disciple live diligently?

Idha, nandiya, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

So tena buddhe aveccappasādena asantuṭṭho uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya.

But they’re not content with that confidence, and make a further effort for solitude by day and retreat by night.

Tassa evaṁ appamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ jāyati.

When they live diligently, joy springs up.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati.

Being joyful, rapture springs up.

Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati.

When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.

Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati.

When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss.

Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.

Samāhite citte dhammā pātubhavanti.

When the mind is immersed in samādhi, principles become clear.

Dhammānaṁ pātubhāvā appamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Because principles have become clear, they’re reckoned to live diligently.

Puna caparaṁ, nandiya, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching …

saṅghe …pe…

the Saṅgha …

ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.

So tehi ariyakantehi sīlehi asantuṭṭho uttari vāyamati divā pavivekāya rattiṁ paṭisallānāya.

But they’re not content with that ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, and make a further effort for solitude by day and retreat by night.

Tassa evaṁ appamattassa viharato pāmojjaṁ jāyati.

When they live diligently, joy springs up.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati.

Being joyful, rapture springs up.

Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati.

When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.

Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati.

When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss.

Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.

Samāhite citte dhammā pātubhavanti.

When the mind is immersed in samādhi, principles become clear.

Dhammānaṁ pātubhāvā appamādavihārītveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Because principles have become clear, they’re reckoned to live diligently.

Evaṁ kho, nandiya, ariyasāvako appamādavihārī hotī”ti.

That’s how a noble disciple lives diligently.”

Dasamaṁ.

Puññābhisandavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Abhisandā tayo vuttā,

duve devapadāni ca;

Sabhāgataṁ mahānāmo,

vassaṁ kāḷī ca nandiyāti.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Joy

Joy

A fresh and mild happiness arising from a sense of spiritual well-being and a clear conscience

Also known as: cheerfulness, gladness, wellbeing
Pāli: pāmojja, somanassa
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Solitude

Solitude

Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.

Also known as: seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association
Pāli: viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Uplifting joy

Uplifting joy

An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture.

Also known as: heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment
Pāli: pīti
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Last updated on July 27, 2026