Catching fish in the mud

This was one of the sights that fascinated me when I lived in Bengal. I can remember seeing this in Mayapur after every rainy season when the ponds and ditches start drying out, especially in the Ganges flood plain. Gadadhar Pran had problems with people raiding a part of his property that usually contained fish flapping in the mud.

But even in the flood of 1977, I went with the cows to the Chaitanya Math because there was higher ground at Ballal Dighi, and I was amazed to see how many people were catching fish in the Ganges current as it came flowing over the road embankment. I guess they were thinking, our houses might go but at least we will have fish for dinner.

From Uddhava-sandesha (122):

“When the sun of separation
dries the lake of the heart
until all that is left are sands;
I know that your life, oh emaciated one,
like that of the fish,
is caught in your throat
and ready to escape.

And I, meanwhile, far away from you,
drown in the ocean of thirst
what can I do,
unable to cross the waters
of luxury and pleasure,
and held back by the forceful winds
of my numerous kinsfolk?

नीते शोषं विरहरविणा सर्वतो हृत्तडागे
जाने कण्ठस्थलविलुठितप्राणमीनासि तन्वि।
दूरे संप्रत्यविरलसुहृन्मारुतैर्वारितोऽहं
तृष्णाम्भोधौ विलसतमृतालंकृतः किं करिष्ये॥

nīte śoṣaṁ viraha-raviṇā sarvato hṛt-taḍāge
jāne kaṇṭha-sthala-viluṭhita-prāṇa-mīnāsi tanvi |
dūre saṁprati avirala-suhṛn-mārutair vārito'haṁ
kṛṣṇāmbhodhau vilasatamṛtālaṁkṛtaḥ kiṁ kariṣye ||