Chapter 4 Verse 6
Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया।।4.6।।
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 unborn and of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, governing my own nature, I am born by my own Maya.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
The verse says that the divine is eternal and beyond birth, yet willingly appears in the world by its own power. This appearance is not from weakness or ignorance but a conscious, self-directed manifestation.
It shows that forms and roles are temporary expressions of a deeper, unchanging reality. The source remains free and unaffected while taking up a role for a purpose.
Spiritually, this teaches that action in the world can be a deliberate display of higher will, not a sign of bondage. The true self stays untouched even as it engages with life.
Life Application
- Do your work fully but remember it does not define your deepest self; act from intention, not from fear of loss.
- Treat changing roles (job, family, social) as temporary forms; adapt without clinging to identity.
- Cultivate the witness attitude: observe your actions and feelings while staying connected to your steady inner self.
Reflection Question
How can I act fully in my responsibilities today while remembering I am more than my role?