Sariputra

Even as a child, Sariputra was sharp-witted and eloquent. At the age of eight, he won debates and received recognition from the king. After he learned about the Law of Dependent Origination, he sought refuge in the Buddha. In the Sangha, he became the chief disciple of the Buddha, who instructed Rahula to regard Sariputra as a teacher. He supervised the construction of Jetavana Monastery and often taught the Dharma on behalf of the Buddha.
Sariputra was well versed in the ideas of other religious teachers and often subdued them with his eloquence, thus earning the title of being foremost in wisdom. He asked for the Buddha’s permission to enter nirvana first because he could not bear to see his teacher entering parinirvana.