Chapter 4, Verse 6 (Bhagavad Gita 4.6)
Chapter 4: Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action
Sanskrit Shloka
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया
Transliteration
ajo ’pi sannavyayātmā bhūtānām īśhvaro ’pi san prakṛitiṁ svām adhiṣhṭhāya sambhavāmyātma-māyayā
Word Meanings
ajaḥ—unborn; api—although; san—being so; avyaya ātmā—Imperishable nature; bhūtānām—of (all) beings; īśhvaraḥ—the Lord; api—although; san—being; prakṛitim—nature; svām—of myself; adhiṣhṭhāya—situated; sambhavāmi—I manifest; ātma-māyayā—by my Yogmaya power
Translation
Though I am birthless and deathless, and the Lord of all living beings, I manifest through my own divine potency, controlling my material nature.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse reveals the mystery of the Divine Incarnation, explaining that the Lord is not bound by karma but chooses to appear within the limitations of the world to restore cosmic order. Psychologically, it teaches us that while our true Self (Atman) is eternal and untouched by worldly suffering, we possess the power to align our worldly personality with divine purpose. By consciously governing our lower nature, we can transcend the cycle of reactive living. It implies that true freedom is not escaping the world, but acting within it while remaining master of one's own internal nature. Ultimately, it invites the seeker to recognize their own inherent divinity despite the worldly masks they may wear.