# Māyā > [!summary] > *The Lord's illusory energy (*māyā*) keeps the conditioned soul forgetful of its true nature. These analogies illustrate how māyā works, how it covers our consciousness, and how it can be overcome.* ## Cloud Covering the Sun ### Illusion Seems to Cover the Lord As clouds appear to cover the sun (though they cannot actually do so), māyā appears to cover the Lord's presence, though He is never actually affected. ![[sb/3/32/28#purport|cloud]] —SB [[sb/3/32/28|3.32.28]] Purport See also: [[bg/7/26|Bg. 7.26]], [[cc/adi/1/53|Ādi 1.53]] ## Crocodile ### The Grip of Material Life Material existence grips the soul like a crocodile seizes an elephant. Only by calling out to the Lord—as Gajendra did—can one be saved. ![[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]] ## Fire Covered by Smoke ### Degrees of Covering Living beings are covered by māyā in different degrees—like fire by smoke, a mirror by dust, or an embryo by the womb. ![[bg/3/38|fire]] —Bg. [[bg/3/38|3.38]] ## Mirage in the Desert ### Chasing False Happiness The materialist chases sense gratification like a deer chasing water in the desert—an illusion that can never satisfy. ![[sb/4/29/18-20#purport|mirage]] —SB [[sb/4/29/18-20|4.29.18-20]] Purport ## Dream ### Vivid but Unreal Material existence is like a dream—we experience it vividly, but upon awakening to spiritual consciousness, we understand it was never real. ![[sb/6/15/5#purport|dream]] —SB [[sb/6/15/5|6.15.5]] Purport See also: [[sb/4/9/33|SB 4.9.33]], [[sb/3/27/4|SB 3.27.4]] ## Whirlpool ### Pulled into Material Existence The conditioned soul is pulled into material existence like a straw caught in a whirlpool—helplessly spinning in the cycle of birth and death. ![[sb/5/14/1#purport|whirlpool]] —SB [[sb/5/14/1|5.14.1]] Purport ## Rope Mistaken for Snake ### False Perception In darkness, a rope may be mistaken for a snake. Similarly, due to ignorance, we misidentify the body as the self. ![[sb/3/27/5#purport|rope]] —SB [[sb/3/27/5|3.27.5]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/dreams|Dream Analogies]], [[wiki/analogies/ocean|Ocean Analogies]]*