One of the five children of two Jain disputants, a man and a woman, of Vesāli; they married at the suggestion of the Licchavī in order that their children might inherit the skill of both. Paṭācārā and her three sisters and one brother were later converted by Sāriputta and became Arahants.

Paṭācārā is identified with one of the daughters of the Kaliṅga king in the Cūḷakāliṅga Jātaka (J.iii.1 ff). Her brother was the Nigaṇṭha Saccaka (MA.i.450).