# Animal Analogies > [!summary] > Śrīla Prabhupāda draws extensively from the animal kingdom to illustrate spiritual truths—from the famous two birds representing soul and Supersoul, to bees as devotees drinking nectar, to the "mad elephant" offense that uproots devotional creepers. ## Birds ### Two Birds in a Tree The Vedic image of two birds—one eating fruits, one witnessing—illustrates the soul and Supersoul relationship. ![[cc/adi/2/19#purport|two birds]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/2/19|Ādi 2.19]] Purport See also: [[bg/2/22|Bg. 2.22]], [[sb/4/28/64|SB 4.28.64]] ### Bird in a Cage The soul trapped in the body—polishing the cage doesn't satisfy the bird. ![[sb/1/2/8#purport|cage of the bird]] —SB [[sb/1/2/8|1.2.8]] Purport ### Crows and Cuckoos Crows suck bitter *nimba* fruits (dry speculation); cuckoos taste sweet mango buds (devotional mellows). ![[cc/madhya/8/258|crows]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/8/258|Madhya 8.258]] See also: [[sb/3/9/1|SB 3.9.1]], [[sb/5/14/29|SB 5.14.29]] ### The Swan (*Haṁsa*) The *paramahaṁsa* discriminates spirit from matter, like a swan extracting milk from water. ![[sb/1/11/2#purport|swan]] —SB [[sb/1/11/2|1.11.2]] Purport See also: [[sb/10/13/2|SB 10.13.2]], [[cc/adi/2/2|Ādi 2.2]] ## Bees ### Devotees as Bees Devotees are like bees drinking nectar from the Lord's lotus feet. ![[sb/1/11/26#purport|bees]] —SB [[sb/1/11/26|1.11.26]] Purport See also: [[sb/5/1/19|SB 5.1.19]], [[cc/adi/2/2|Ādi 2.2]] ### Sannyāsī as Bumblebee A *sannyāsī* collects a little from each household, like a bee gathering nectar. ![[cc/madhya/15/243#purport|bee]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/15/243|Madhya 15.243]] Purport See also: [[sb/5/1/27|SB 5.1.27]] ## Elephants ### The Mad Elephant Offense Offenses to Vaiṣṇavas are compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper of devotion. ![[cc/madhya/19/156|mad elephant]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/19/156|Madhya 19.156]] See also: [[sb/4/26/24|SB 4.26.24]], [[sb/5/1/5|SB 5.1.5]], [[sb/5/10/17|SB 5.10.17]] ### Elephant Bathing An elephant bathes in the river then throws dust on itself—like atonement followed by more sins. ![[cc/madhya/24/253#purport|elephant's bathing]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/253|Madhya 24.253]] Purport ## Snakes & Crocodiles ### Crocodile as Māyā Material life grips the soul like a crocodile—only the Lord can save us, as with Gajendra. ![[sb/8/2/30#purport|crocodile]] —SB [[sb/8/2/30|8.2.30]] Purport See also: [[sb/8/3/17|SB 8.3.17]], [[sb/8/4/13|SB 8.4.13]] ### Snake as Time Time approaches silently like a snake, devouring all. ![[sb/5/14/29#purport|death]] —SB [[sb/5/14/29|5.14.29]] Purport ## Dogs, Hogs & Asses ### Dog Swimming Demigods compared to dogs swimming across the ocean—they cannot help others cross. ![[sb/6/9/22#purport|dog]] —SB [[sb/6/9/22|6.9.22]] Purport ### Hog in Stool The materialist attached to sense gratification is like a hog happy in stool. ![[sb/4/28/10#purport|hog]] —SB [[sb/4/28/10|4.28.10]] Purport See also: [[sb/2/3/14|SB 2.3.14]], [[sb/3/32/19|SB 3.32.19]] ### Ass Carrying Burden The *mūḍha* (fool) works hard like an ass, not knowing his real interest. ![[bg/7/15|ass]] —Bg. [[bg/7/15|7.15]] See also: [[sb/5/13/18|SB 5.13.18]] ## Other Animals ### Camel Eating Thorns The sense enjoyer is like a camel chewing thorns that cut its mouth, tasting its own blood. ![[sb/2/3/19#purport|camel]] —SB [[sb/2/3/19|2.3.19]] Purport ### Deer Chasing Mirage The conditioned soul chases illusory happiness like a deer chasing water in the desert. ![[sb/4/29/18-20#purport|deer]] —SB [[sb/4/29/18-20|4.29.18-20]] Purport ### Frog in the Well The speculator is like a frog in a well, unable to conceive of the ocean. ![[sb/2/10/42#purport|frog]] —SB [[sb/2/10/42|2.10.42]] Purport See also: [[sb/3/6/35|SB 3.6.35]] ### Cat's Kitten The devotee surrenders to the Lord like a kitten carried by its mother. ![[sb/4/12/30#purport|kitten]] —SB [[sb/4/12/30|4.12.30]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]*