Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti
न शक्नोमि विभो सम्यक्कर्तुं पूजां यथोदिताम् / यत्कृतं जपहोमादि असाध्यं पुरुषोत्तम
na śaknomi vibho samyakkartuṃ pūjāṃ yathoditām / yatkṛtaṃ japahomādi asādhyaṃ puruṣottama
Ó Senhor soberano, não consigo realizar o culto exatamente como foi prescrito. Mesmo o que fiz—como japa e homa—parece-me insuficiente e difícil de concluir devidamente, ó Puruṣottama.
A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Vishnu (Puruṣottama)
Concept: Bhakti is upheld even when ritual performance is imperfect; acknowledging limitation becomes an offering.
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) and dainya (humble dependence) as supports for sādhana beyond mere ritual exactitude.
Application: Offer daily worship to the best of one’s capacity; when lapses occur, explicitly confess and dedicate the incomplete act to Viṣṇu rather than abandoning practice.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Uttara/Preta-related sections often stress Viṣṇu-smaraṇa as refuge when rites are deficient)
This verse models humility: the devotee admits inability to meet the full prescribed standard, emphasizing sincerity over ritual perfection.
It acknowledges japa and homa as key devotional acts, while also warning that without proper capacity and correctness, one may feel them incomplete—prompting reliance on divine grace.
Do your daily japa/puja to the best of your ability, follow the prescribed method as far as possible, and maintain a repentant, sincere attitude rather than anxiety about perfection.