The shámuk is a shell-fish, which is found in almost every marsh or "bil." Its shell is in appearance very like a snail shell. It is useless as an article of food, except to the সামুক ভঙ্গা (shá-muk bhanga), which is a species of heron that cracks the shells with its strong beak. Lime is, however, made from the shells in considerable quantities, and is sold and bought by the poor to eat with "tamul"(betelnut). The পাঞ্চ জন্য শঙ্খ was the mythi- cal conch which was blown by Sri Krishna during the battle of the Mahabharat.
জহলৈ ন মৰো মহলৈ মৰো,
ফটা আঠুৱা খন টিঙ্গালি কৈ তৰো।
Jahalai na mare mahalai maro,
Phatá áthuwá khan tingáli kai taro,
I do not care for the heat, but I die from the mosquitoes,
Since I have hung my torn mosquito curtain too high.
Probably the meaning of this proverb is “penny wise and pound foolish." Another reading যহলৈ ন মৰো, in which case যহ (Sanskrit যশ) means fame.
নকলেও নোৱাৰো ফটা মুখ,
কলেও লাগে ভকতৰ দোষ।
Nakaleo nowáro phatá mukh,
Kaleo láge bhakatar dosh.
There is an opening in the mouth, and I can't help speaking,
If I do speak, the blame will fall on the “baakat.”
Here the man is between the horns of a dilemma; he can't help speaking, but if he does he will get a baakat into trouble. ভকত (bhakat) means a disciple of a gosain or priest.
