A Khattiya-maiden of Kapilavatthu. She saw from her balcony Siddhattha Gotama returning in his chariot to his palace on receipt of the news that a son had been born to him. Gotamī was gladdened by the sight of him, and gave vent to her exultation in the famous “nibbutā-pada” (nibuttā nūna sā mātā … )

Gotama was pleased by the mention of the word nibbuta, which to him meant deliverance, and as a mark of his gratitude sent her the necklace of pearls which he wore, worth one hundred thousand. She accepted it gladly as a token of his love (J.i.60 f; BuA.232 f). She is sometimes spoken of as a cousin of Gotama, his father’s brother’s daughter (pitucchādhītā). (e.g., DhA.i.70; DhSA.34. A parallel has been drawn between this story and that of Luke xi.27).