# Prison > [!summary] > *The material world is compared to a prison house where conditioned souls serve terms of imprisonment according to their karma. The Lord supervises this prison, but like a king visiting his prison, He is never affected by its conditions.* ## Material World as Prison ### Prison House of Material Existence Living entities who try to lord it over material nature become entrapped by the three modes and must serve sentences of imprisonment. ![[sb/1/2/23#purport|prison house of the material world]] —SB [[sb/1/2/23|1.2.23]] Purport See also: [[sb/2/7/50|SB 2.7.50]], [[sb/2/10/37-40|SB 2.10.40]] ## The Lord as Prison Supervisor ### The King and His Prison Like a king who visits the prison house but is never bound by its regulations, the Lord supervises the material world without being affected. ![[sb/3/7/2#purport|restrictions of the prison house]] —SB [[sb/3/7/2|3.7.2]] Purport See also: [[cc/adi/5/86|Cc. Adi 5.86]] ## Prisoners and Trustees ### Demigods as Prison Trustees Demigods are compared to prison trustees—they have certain authority within the prison, but cannot release anyone. See: [[sb/3/5/51|SB 3.5.51]] ## Family Life as Prison ### Trapped in Household Affairs Attachment to wife, children, and possessions keeps the conditioned soul imprisoned in material existence. ![[sb/3/30/8#purport|prison life]] —SB [[sb/3/30/8|3.30.8]] Purport ## Sex Life as Prison Bars ### Shackled by Desire Sex desire is compared to prison bars—it keeps the living entity bound to the material body. ![[bg/3/39#purport|envelops...real knowledge]] —Bg. [[bg/3/39|3.39]] Purport ## Liberation from Prison ### Only Visnu Can Release No demigod can release the imprisoned soul from material existence. Only Visnu, the form of goodness, can grant liberation. ![[sb/1/2/23#purport|No demigod, however, can release]] —SB [[sb/1/2/23|1.2.23]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/bondage|Bondage]], [[wiki/analogies/material-world|Material World]], [[wiki/analogies/liberation|Liberation]]*