The Buddha describes the foremost of his bhikkhu disciples in various categories.
1.198
“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ abhinimminantānaṁ yadidaṁ cūḷapanthako.
“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhu disciples among those |creating::fashioning, forming [abhinimminanta]| a mind-made body is |Cūḷapanthaka::foremost disciple of the Buddha in creating a mind-made body [cūḷapanthaka]|.
1.199
… Cetovivaṭṭakusalānaṁ yadidaṁ cūḷapanthako.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |skilled in mental transformation::skilled in the evolution (lit. turning apart [vivaṭṭa]) of mind. According to the commentary (Mp-ṭ), this means mastery in directing and refining collectedness (samādhi) — the capacity to move the mind from a lesser calm to a greater calm, from a coarse collectedness to one more refined. [cetovivaṭṭakusala]| is Cūḷapanthaka.
1.200
… Saññāvivaṭṭakusalānaṁ yadidaṁ mahāpanthako.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |skilled in the transformation of perception::skilled in the evolution (lit. turning apart [vivaṭṭa]) of perception. The commentary (Mp-ṭ) explains this as the ability to refine or shift perception, to go beyond coarse perceptions of form and multiplicity toward subtler perceptions leading to peace. [saññāvivaṭṭakusala]| is |Mahāpanthaka::foremost disciple of the Buddha among those skilled in the transformation of perception [mahāpanthaka]|.
1.201
… Araṇavihārīnaṁ yadidaṁ subhūti.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who |dwell without conflict::dwell harmlessly [araṇavihārī]| is |Subhūti::foremost disciple of the Buddha in dwelling without conflict and worthy of offerings [subhūti]|.
1.202
… Dakkhiṇeyyānaṁ yadidaṁ subhūti.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who is worthy of offerings is Subhūti.
1.203
… Āraññakānaṁ yadidaṁ revato khadiravaniyo.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among forest dwellers is Revata of the Acacia forest.
1.204
… Jhāyīnaṁ yadidaṁ kaṅkhārevato.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among |meditators::yogis [jhāyi]| is |Revata the doubter::foremost disciple of the Buddha in jhāna [kaṅkhārevata]|.
1.205
… Āraddhavīriyānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇo koḷiviso.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |with energy aroused::with initiative [āraddhavīriya]| is Soṇa Koḷivisa.
1.206
… Kalyāṇavākkaraṇānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇo kuṭikaṇṇo.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who speak eloquently is Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa.
1.207
… Lābhīnaṁ yadidaṁ sīvali.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who make gains is Sīvali.
1.208
… Saddhādhimuttānaṁ yadidaṁ vakkalī”ti.
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those unwavering in confidence is Vakkali.
1.198
“Bhikkhus, the |foremost::chief, best [agga]| of my bhikkhu disciples among those |creating::fashioning, forming [abhinimminanta]| a mind-made body is |Cūḷapanthaka::foremost disciple of the Buddha in creating a mind-made body [cūḷapanthaka]|.
1.199
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |skilled in mental transformation::skilled in the evolution (lit. turning apart [vivaṭṭa]) of mind. According to the commentary (Mp-ṭ), this means mastery in directing and refining collectedness (samādhi) — the capacity to move the mind from a lesser calm to a greater calm, from a coarse collectedness to one more refined. [cetovivaṭṭakusala]| is Cūḷapanthaka.
1.200
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |skilled in the transformation of perception::skilled in the evolution (lit. turning apart [vivaṭṭa]) of perception. The commentary (Mp-ṭ) explains this as the ability to refine or shift perception, to go beyond coarse perceptions of form and multiplicity toward subtler perceptions leading to peace. [saññāvivaṭṭakusala]| is |Mahāpanthaka::foremost disciple of the Buddha among those skilled in the transformation of perception [mahāpanthaka]|.
1.201
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who |dwell without conflict::dwell harmlessly [araṇavihārī]| is |Subhūti::foremost disciple of the Buddha in dwelling without conflict and worthy of offerings [subhūti]|.
1.202
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who is worthy of offerings is Subhūti.
1.203
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among forest dwellers is Revata of the Acacia forest.
1.204
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among |meditators::yogis [jhāyi]| is |Revata the doubter::foremost disciple of the Buddha in jhāna [kaṅkhārevata]|.
1.205
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those |with energy aroused::with initiative [āraddhavīriya]| is Soṇa Koḷivisa.
1.206
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who speak eloquently is Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa.
1.207
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those who make gains is Sīvali.
1.208
Bhikkhus, the foremost of my bhikkhu disciples among those unwavering in confidence is Vakkali.
“Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ abhinimminantānaṁ yadidaṁ cūḷapanthako.
… Cetovivaṭṭakusalānaṁ yadidaṁ cūḷapanthako.
… Saññāvivaṭṭakusalānaṁ yadidaṁ mahāpanthako.
… Araṇavihārīnaṁ yadidaṁ subhūti.
… Dakkhiṇeyyānaṁ yadidaṁ subhūti.
… Āraññakānaṁ yadidaṁ revato khadiravaniyo.
… Jhāyīnaṁ yadidaṁ kaṅkhārevato.
… Āraddhavīriyānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇo koḷiviso.
… Kalyāṇavākkaraṇānaṁ yadidaṁ soṇo kuṭikaṇṇo.
… Lābhīnaṁ yadidaṁ sīvali.
… Saddhādhimuttānaṁ yadidaṁ vakkalī”ti.
Per the commentary, venerable Subhūti was Anāthapiṇḍika’s younger brother and went forth on the day Jetavana Monastery was dedicated to the Buddha. He attained arahantship through developing insight grounded in loving-kindness. Before giving Dhamma teachings or receiving alms, he would first enter collectedness through loving-kindness and then emerge. The Buddha praised him for his peaceful conduct and for living “without contention toward anyone.”
Per the commentary, venerable Revata of the Acacia forest is the youngest brother of the venerable Sāriputta. Compelled by his mother to marry when still young, he ran away and received ordination.
An inspired utterance related to Revata the doubter is at Ud 5.7.
The story of Soṇa Koḷivisa’s awakening is at AN 6.55.
Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa’s story is told in Ud5.6. He was praised by the Buddha for his well enunciated recitation of the Aṭṭhakavagga (SnP 4 discourses).
Vakkali’s story is mentioned in SN 22.87.