Chapter IV · Śloka 6
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् ।
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ॥
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ॥
ajo 'pi sann avyayātmā bhūtānām īśvaro 'pi san |
prakṛtiṃ svām adhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā ||
prakṛtiṃ svām adhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā ||
Though I am unborn and My self is imperishable, though I am the Lord of all beings, yet governing My own nature I take birth through My own divine power (ātma-māyā).
The paradox of divine incarnation is held together here: the unborn assumes birth not through compulsion but through sovereign self-will and yogic mastery over prakṛti. This distinguishes avatāra from ordinary embodiment.