Nisabha — The Book of the Twos · Chapter Four · Poem 8 of 10
Setting
No narrative setting; two four-line verses, without a translated attribution
Speaker
Nisabha, on giving up sensual pleasures and waiting for death without longing
Form
Two four-line verses — a general instruction, then a personal statement of equanimity
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
This reading guide does not assert a specific matching text for this poem in other Buddhist literatures.
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — a calm, symmetrical statement of equanimity
Why this text
Nisabha instructs that one who has given up the five sensual pleasures out of faith should make an end to suffering — then turns personal, declaring he longs for neither death nor life, only awaiting his time, aware and mindful.
Reading guide
An instruction, addressed generally
The first verse speaks in the third person about ‘one who's given up the five sensual titillations... and who's left the home life out of faith’, closing with an instruction rather than a personal report: ‘let them make an end to suffering’.
Neither death nor life, longed for
The second verse turns to Nisabha's own voice and states a precise symmetry: ‘I don't long for death; I don't long for life’ — the same structure repeated with only the object changed, refusing to prefer either extreme.
Waiting, not seeking
The poem closes not on a claim of already having died or already having transcended life, but on an ongoing posture: ‘I await my time, aware and mindful’ — equanimity practiced as a present, continuing stance rather than a settled past event.
Key terms
pañca kāmaguṇe — “the five sensual titillations” — what is given up in the first verse's instruction.
saddhāya — “out of faith” — the stated motive for leaving the home life.
nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ — “I don't long for death” — the first half of the second verse's symmetrical statement.
nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ — “I don't long for life” — the matching second half, identical structure, opposite object.
sampajāno patissato — “aware and mindful” — the manner of Nisabha's ongoing wait, closing the poem.
The text
The text in full: two verses, without a translated attribution. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1One who’s given up the five sensual titillations, so pleasing and delightful, and who’s left the home life out of faith—let them make an end to suffering!
§2I don’t long for death; I don’t long for life; I await my time, aware and mindful.
· · ·
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What does the first verse instruct someone who has given up sensual pleasures to do?
Correct: A. A third-person instruction closes the first verse.
Question 2 of 10
What motive does the first verse name for leaving the home life?
Correct: A. Saddhāya, stated directly.
Question 3 of 10
What symmetrical statement opens the second verse?
Correct: C. The same structure, repeated with only the object changed.
Question 4 of 10
What does the poem's closing line describe?
Correct: B. Equanimity practiced as a present, continuing stance.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'pañca kāmaguṇe' mean?
Correct: C. What is given up in the first verse's instruction.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'sampajāno patissato' mean?
Correct: D. The manner of Nisabha's ongoing wait.
Question 7 of 10
Does the first verse speak in the first person or third person?
Correct: C. General instruction, before the second verse turns personal.
Question 8 of 10
What does 'saddhāya' mean?
Correct: D. The stated motive for leaving the home life.
Question 9 of 10
How does the poem's structure move?
Correct: B. Third person, then first person, in that order.
Question 10 of 10
Where does this poem fall in Chapter Four?
Correct: D. Following Migasira through Soṇapoṭiriya.
