# Iron & Fire > [!summary] > *When iron is placed in fire, it becomes red-hot and acts like fire itself—yet it remains iron. Similarly, the conditioned soul engaged in devotional service becomes spiritualized while maintaining individuality.* ## Iron Becomes Fire-Like ### Material Nature Activated Just as iron becomes red-hot by the energy of fire, material nature becomes activated by the energy of Lord Krsna. ![[cc/adi/5/60|iron becomes red-hot by the energy of fire]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/5/60|Adi 5.60]] See also: [[cc/adi/5/51|Cc. Adi 5.51]] ## The Devotee Purified ### Heated Iron and Devotional Service When iron is put into fire, it becomes warm, then red-hot—though still iron, it acts like fire. Similarly, engagement in pure devotional service transcends material qualities. ![[sb/4/3/23#purport|iron is put into a fire]] —SB [[sb/4/3/23|4.3.23]] Purport ## Iron and the Body ### Transformed by Divine Contact The material body can become spiritualized through contact with the Lord's energy, just as iron becomes red-hot through fire. ![[cc/madhya/2/34|iron...fire]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/2/34|Madhya 2.34]] ## Iron Bar & Sarvabhauma ### Melted by Lord's Mercy Like an iron bar melted by fire, Sarvabhauma's hard philosophical positions melted upon seeing Lord Caitanya. ![[cc/madhya/6/214|like an iron bar]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/6/214|Madhya 6.214]] ## Lodestone & Lord ### Magnetic Attraction The Lord is compared to a lodestone that attracts iron—even though iron is inert matter, it moves toward the magnet by the magnet's energy. ![[sb/5/18/38#purport|lodestone]] —SB [[sb/5/18/38|5.18.38]] Purport ## Iron & Lust ### Transformed by Love Lust is compared to iron, and love of God is compared to gold. Through devotional service, the iron of lust is transformed into the gold of divine love. ![[cc/adi/4/164|iron and gold]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/4/164|Adi 4.164]] See also: [[cc/madhya/8/139|Cc. Madhya 8.139]] *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/fire|Fire]], [[wiki/analogies/gold|Gold & Gems]], [[wiki/analogies/association|Association]]*