The following shlokas are from Srimad Bhagavatam where the material world, samsara is described as a deep blind well (कूप) and how one can be protected from falling into the deep pit.
S.B. 7.5.5 – Prahlada said:
तत्साधु मन्येऽसुरवर्य देहिनां
सदा समुद्विग्नधियामसद्ग्रहात्।
हित्वात्मपातं गृहमन्धकूपं
वनं गतो यद्धरिमाश्रयेत ॥५॥
Sri Prahlada said: ‘Fine, oh King of the Asuras, I think that every embodied soul always has a mind full of worries because he is imprisoned in the material world. When one wants to get rid of that covering of the soul, that worldly concern which is nothing but a blind well, one better heads for the forest and seeks refuge with the Lord.’
S.B. 7.9.28 – Prahlada said:
एवं जनं निपतितं प्रभवाहिकूपे
कामाभिकाममनु यः प्रपतन् प्रसङ्गात्।
कृत्वाऽऽत्मसात्सुरर्षिणा भगवन् गृहीतः
सोऽहं कथं नु विसृजे तव भृत्यसेवाम् ॥ २८॥
The common man who in his material existence fell into a blind well full of snakes, runs after the objects of his desire. I, who by bad association just like such a person fell into that condition, was by the Sura sage [Narada], oh Supreme Lord, taken into confidence and led to the truth of the soul. How could I ever give up on the service of Your pure devotee?
S.B. 7.15.46 – Narada said:
नोचेत्प्रमत्तमसदिन्द्रियवाजिसूता
नीत्वोत्पथं विषयदस्युषु निक्षिपन्ति,
ते दस्यवः सहयसूतममुं तमोऽन्धे
संसारकूप उरुमृत्युभये क्षिपन्ति ॥४६॥
Not doing so being inattentive and motivated for what is untrue, the senses that act as the horses will lead the charioteer on the road of desire. There the driver falls into the hands of rogues, the sense objects [who rule with vishaya, eating, sleeping and mating] because of whom he, together with the horses and the rest, will land in the dark, blind well of material existence and suffer the great fear of death.
S.B. 10.51.46
लब्ध्वा जनो दुर्लभमत्र मानुषं
कथञ्चिदव्यङ्गमयत्नतोऽनघ ।
पादारविन्दं न भजत्यसन्मति-
र्गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशुः ॥४७॥
Muchukundan said: ‘The person who somehow or other in this world attains the rarely obtained, highly evolved human form of life and not an idle [animal] form oh sinless one, will, with an impure mind, not be of worship and like an animal be fallen in the blind well of his home.’
S.B. 10.82.48 – Gopis said:
आहुश्चते नलिननाभ पदारविन्दं
योगेश्वरैर्हृदि विचिन्त्यमगाधबोधैः।
संसारकूप पतितोत्तरणावलम्बं
गेहंजुषामपि मनस्युदियात्सदा नः ॥४९॥
The gopis said: ‘Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogis and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.’
Pure devotees are never motivated by a desire for material elevation or spiritual liberation. And even if the Lord offers them such benedictions, the devotees often refuse to accept them, as stated in 11.20.34: (Bhagawan to Udhava)
न किञ्चित्साधवो धीरा भक्ता ह्येकान्तिनो मम।
वाञ्छन्त्यपि मया दत्तं कैवल्यमपुनर्भवम् ॥३४॥
नारायण अखिल गुरो भगवन् नमस्ते ।
kNOw-me 