# City > [!summary] > *Cities with their kings, citizens, walls, and activities provide rich imagery for understanding the body, soul, and governance of material existence.* ## City with Nine Gates ### Body as City The body is compared to a city with nine gates (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth, genitals, anus)—the soul is the king residing within. ![[bg/5/13|nine gates]] —Bg. [[bg/5/13|5.13]] See also: [[sb/4/29/2|SB 4.29.2]] ## King and Kingdom ### Soul and Body As a king rules his kingdom but is not the kingdom itself, the soul rules the body but is separate from it. ![[sb/4/29/4#purport|king]] —SB [[sb/4/29/4|4.29.4]] Purport ## City Under Siege ### Senses as Enemies The senses are like enemies within the city walls—if not controlled, they conquer from within and destroy the kingdom of consciousness. ![[bg/2/68#purport|siege]] —Bg. [[bg/2/68|2.68]] Purport ## City Without Walls ### Without Protection of Knowledge A city without protective walls is vulnerable to attack. Similarly, without the walls of knowledge and discrimination, the mind is vulnerable to sense objects. ![[sb/6/14/3#purport|walls]] —SB [[sb/6/14/3|6.14.3]] Purport ## Capital and Provinces ### Relationship to Supreme As provinces are connected to the capital and depend on it, all living beings are connected to and dependent on the Supreme Lord. ![[bg/7/7#purport|capital]] —Bg. [[bg/7/7|7.7]] Purport ## City Dweller vs Forest Dweller ### Householder vs Renunciate Different lifestyles suit different natures—the city dweller (householder) and forest dweller (renunciate) both can serve the Lord according to their situation. ![[sb/5/1/17#purport|city forest]] —SB [[sb/5/1/17|5.1.17]] Purport ## Well-Governed City ### Regulated Life A well-governed city has law and order. Similarly, a regulated life according to spiritual principles leads to peace and progress. ![[sb/4/14/17#purport|governed]] —SB [[sb/4/14/17|4.14.17]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/government|Government]], [[wiki/analogies/soul-body|Soul & Body]], [[wiki/analogies/mind-senses|Mind & Senses]]*