Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 6

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् | प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया ||

ajo 'pi sann avyayātmā bhūtānām īśvaro 'pi san prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā

Although I am unborn and My Self is imperishable, and although I am the Lord of all beings, I take birth by controlling My material nature, appearing by My own divine power.

Krishna reveals how divine incarnation works. 'Ajaḥ' (unborn) means he's not subject to material birth like ordinary beings. 'Avyayātmā' (imperishable Self) means his essence never changes. Yet he 'takes birth' (sambhavāmi) through 'ātma-māyayā' (his own divine power), controlling his material nature (prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya). This isn't forced birth from karma—it's conscious appearance for a purpose. The key distinction: ordinary beings are born due to karma (compelled); Krishna appears by will (conscious choice). This verse explains verses 4.1-4.5: Krishna remembers all births because they're conscious manifestations, not forced incarnations. His birth is purpose-driven, not karma-driven.