At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Nandaka the Licchavi chief minister went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
“Nandaka, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
A noble disciple who has these four things is endowed with long life, both human and heavenly … beauty … happiness … glory … and sovereignty, both human and heavenly. Now, I don’t say this because I’ve heard it from some other ascetic or brahmin. I only say it because I’ve known, seen, and realized it for myself.”
When he had spoken, a certain person said to Nandaka:
“Sir, it is time to bathe.”
“Enough now, lad, with that exterior bath. This interior bathing will do for me, that is, confidence in the Buddha.”