# Devotional Service > [!summary] > *Devotional service (*bhakti-yoga*) is the supreme method of spiritual realization. These analogies illustrate how it works, why it is effective, and what results it produces.* ## Watering the Root ### Satisfying Everything at Once As watering the root of a tree nourishes all its branches and leaves, serving Kṛṣṇa satisfies all other duties and relationships automatically. ![[sb/4/31/14#purport|watering]] —SB [[sb/4/31/14|4.31.14]] Purport See also: [[bg/5/7|Bg. 5.7]], [[cc/madhya/22/63|Madhya 22.63]] ## Creeper ### Growing to the Spiritual World Devotional service is compared to a creeper that, when planted in the heart and watered by hearing and chanting, grows through the material universe to reach the spiritual world. ![[cc/madhya/19/150|creeper]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/19/150|Madhya 19.150-62]] See also: [[sb/3/2/6|SB 3.2.6]], [[sb/4/22/23|SB 4.22.23]] ## Fire Burning Fuel ### Consuming Reactions As fire reduces fuel to ashes, devotional service burns all reactions to past activities. ![[cc/madhya/24/61|fire]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/61|Madhya 24.61]] See also: [[sb/8/24/48|SB 8.24.48]] ## Touchstone ### Transforming the Devotee Devotional service is compared to a touchstone that transforms iron into gold. By contact with pure devotion, even the most fallen becomes purified. ![[cc/madhya/22/63#purport|touchstone]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/63|Madhya 22.63]] Purport ## Feeding the Stomach ### Natural Distribution As food eaten nourishes all parts of the body automatically, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa satisfies all obligations to demigods, ancestors, and other beings. ![[cc/madhya/22/63|stomach]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/63|Madhya 22.63]] See also: [[bg/9/23|Bg. 9.23]] ## Ambrosia ### The Sweetest Nectar Devotional service is compared to ambrosia—the sweetest nectar that gives eternal life and unlimited happiness. ![[cc/madhya/22/38|ambrosia]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/38|Madhya 22.38]] ## Lotus Forest ### Attracting the Mind Pure devotional service is compared to a forest of lotus flowers that attracts the bee-like mind to drink its nectar. ![[cc/madhya/25/273|lotus]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/25/273|Madhya 25.273]] ## Arrow ### Piercing the Heart Bhakti-yoga is compared to an arrow that pierces the heart, killing the false ego and awakening love of God. ![[sb/3/25/29#purport|arrow]] —SB [[sb/3/25/29|3.25.29]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/holy-name|Holy Name Analogies]], [[wiki/analogies/fire|Fire Analogies]]*