Shloka 1
Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority
प्रेतकल्पे मोक्षोपायनिरूपणं नामैकोनपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः श्रीगणेशायनमः / श्रीलक्ष्मीनृसिंहाय नमः / श्रीदत्तात्रेयाय नमः / श्रीवेदव्यासाय नमः / श्रीहयग्रीवाय नमः / ॐ मल्लानामशनिर्नृणां नरवरः स्त्रीणां स्मरो मूर्तिमान् गोपानां स्वजनो ऽसतां क्षितिभृतां शास्ता स्वपित्रोः शिशुः / मृत्युर्भोजपतेर्विधातृविहित स्तत्त्वं परं योगिनां वृष्णीनां च पतिः सदैव शुशुभे रङ्गे ऽच्युतः साग्रजः
pretakalpe mokṣopāyanirūpaṇaṃ nāmaikonapañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīgaṇeśāyanamaḥ / śrīlakṣmīnṛsiṃhāya namaḥ / śrīdattātreyāya namaḥ / śrīvedavyāsāya namaḥ / śrīhayagrīvāya namaḥ / oṃ mallānāmaśanirnṛṇāṃ naravaraḥ strīṇāṃ smaro mūrtimān gopānāṃ svajano 'satāṃ kṣitibhṛtāṃ śāstā svapitroḥ śiśuḥ / mṛtyurbhojapatervidhātṛvihita stattvaṃ paraṃ yogināṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ ca patiḥ sadaiva śuśubhe raṅge 'cyutaḥ sāgrajaḥ
ପ୍ରେତକଳ୍ପରେ ‘ମୋକ୍ଷୋପାୟ-ନିରୂପଣ’ ନାମକ ଊନପଞ୍ଚାଶତ୍ତମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ। ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶାୟ ନମଃ, ଶ୍ରୀଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ-ନୃସିଂହାୟ ନମଃ, ଶ୍ରୀଦତ୍ତାତ୍ରେୟାୟ ନମଃ, ଶ୍ରୀବେଦବ୍ୟାସାୟ ନମଃ, ଶ୍ରୀହୟଗ୍ରୀବାୟ ନମଃ। ॐ—ରଙ୍ଗଭୂମିରେ ଅଗ୍ରଜ ସହିତ ଅଚ୍ୟୁତ (କୃଷ୍ଣ) ଏପରି ଶୋଭିତ ହେଲେ: ମଲ୍ଲମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବଜ୍ରସଦୃଶ, ନରମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମୂର୍ତ୍ତିମାନ ସ୍ମର, ଗୋପମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସ୍ୱଜନ, ଦୁଷ୍ଟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଶାସକ, ରାଜମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ନିୟନ୍ତା, ପିତାମାତାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଶିଶୁ, ଭୋଜପତି କଂସ ପାଇଁ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ, ଯୋଗୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପରମତତ୍ତ୍ୱ, ଏବଂ ବୃଷ୍ଣିମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସ୍ୱାମୀ।
Narrator/Compiler (Garuda Purana framing; invocatory and eulogistic opening rather than Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)
Concept: The one Lord appears according to the beholder’s disposition—protector, beloved, ruler, death, or supreme truth—revealing His all-pervading sovereignty and intimacy.
Vedantic Theme: Ekaṃ sat—one reality apprehended diversely; īśvara as both immanent and transcendent; the Lord as paramatattva for yogins.
Application: Cultivate a devotional lens (bhāva) and ethical purification so perception of the divine shifts from fear/hostility to refuge and truth.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: arena
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: chapter framing ‘mokṣopāya-nirūpaṇa’ with maṅgalācaraṇa and Hari-stuti (structural parallel within the text)
FAQs
It signals a focused teaching section on practical and philosophical means to attain liberation, placed within the Preta-kalpa context where after-death concerns are linked to ultimate release.
Before detailing liberation methods, the text invokes revered deities and praises Acyuta as the supreme reality for yogins—establishing devotion to Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa as a guiding framework for mokṣa-oriented instruction.
Begin any study or ritual (including śrāddha-related learning) with reverence and a mokṣa-intent mindset, remembering the Divine as the inner truth and moral compass that disciplines adharma.