➥ Sotāpanna: the 'Stream-winner', is the lowest of the 8 noble disciples (see ariya-puggala).

Three kinds are to be distinguished: the one 'with 7 rebirths at the utmost' (sattakkhattu-parama), the one 'passing from one noble family to another' (kolaṅkola), the one 'germinating only once more' (eka-bījī). As it is said (e.g. Puggalapaññatti 37-39; AN 3.87):

(1) “If a man, after the disappearance of the 3 fetters (personality-belief, skeptical doubt, attachment to rules and ritual; see saṅyojana), has entered the stream (to Nibbāna), he is no more subject to rebirth in lower worlds, is firmly established, destined to full enlightenment. After having passed amongst the heavenly and human beings only seven times more through the round of rebirths, he puts an end to suffering. Such a man is called 'one with 7 births at the utmost' (sattakkhattu-parama).

(2) “If a man, after the disappearance of the 3 fetters…. is destined to full enlightenment, he, after having passed among noble families two or three times through the round of rebirths, puts an end to suffering. Such a man is called 'one passing from one noble family to another' (kolaṅkola).

(3) “If a man, after the disappearance of the 3 fetters…. is destined to full enlightenment, he, after having only once more returned to human existence, puts an end to suffering.

Such a man is called 'one germinating only once more' (eka-bījī). See Sotāpatti-Saṁyuttā SN 55