# Liberation > [!summary] > *Liberation (*mukti*) means freedom from the cycle of birth and death. These analogies illuminate what liberation is, how it is achieved, and what the liberated state is like.* ## Crossing the Ocean ### Reaching the Other Shore Liberation is compared to crossing a vast ocean and reaching the other shore—safety after a perilous journey through dangerous waters. ![[bg/4/36#purport|ocean]] —Bg. [[bg/4/36|4.36]] Purport See also: [[bg/12/6-7|Bg. 12.6-7]] ## Waking from Dream ### End of Illusion Just as waking ends all dream experiences, liberation ends all material experiences. We realize it was never real in the absolute sense. ![[sb/4/22/27#purport|waking]] —SB [[sb/4/22/27|4.22.27]] Purport See also: [[sb/5/1/16|SB 5.1.16]] ## Bird Released from Cage ### Freedom to Fly The liberated soul is like a bird released from its cage—finally free to fly in its natural element, unrestricted. ![[sb/1/2/8#purport|bird]] —SB [[sb/1/2/8|1.2.8]] Purport ## River Merging into Ocean ### Returning to the Source As a river flows to the ocean and merges into it, the soul returns to the spiritual world. Yet unlike the impersonalist idea, the devotee retains individuality—like an aquatic swimming in the ocean. ![[bg/18/55#purport|ocean]] —Bg. [[bg/18/55|18.55]] Purport ## Escaping the Fire ### Saved from Burning Liberation is like escaping from a forest fire—the relief of being saved from certain destruction. ![[bg/4/36#purport|fire]] —Bg. [[bg/4/36|4.36]] Purport ## Freed Prisoner ### Release from Bondage The liberated soul is like a prisoner released after serving his sentence—finally free from confinement, able to go where he wishes. ![[sb/2/7/50#purport|prisoner]] —SB [[sb/2/7/50|2.7.50]] Purport ## Sun Rising ### Darkness Automatically Dispelled As the rising sun automatically dispels darkness, attaining pure devotion automatically brings liberation without separate endeavor. ![[sb/6/1/15#purport|sun]] —SB [[sb/6/1/15|6.1.15]] Purport ## Healthy Body ### Natural State Restored Liberation is like recovering health after a long illness—the natural, blissful condition of the soul is restored. ![[sb/3/28/44#purport|health]] —SB [[sb/3/28/44|3.28.44]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/bondage|Bondage]], [[wiki/analogies/material-world|Material World]], [[wiki/analogies/spiritual-world|Spiritual World]]*