Kalahastishavilasa 2.63

2.63

tasmātsatvādyudrekavatā brahmaṇā sātvikādiṣu
proktatvātsāttvikādi vyapadeśaḥ | purāṇānām - agneḥ śivasya
māhātmyaṃ tāmaseṣu prakīrtyata iti vacanāt
śivapratipādakānāṃ purāṇānāṃ tāmasatvaṃ
tatpratipādyatvācca śivasya tāmasatvam | na ca tasya śreyaḥ
prāpakatvaṃ tamasā moha eva cetyādi vacanāt | sattvātsañjāyate
jñānaṃśreyāṃsi | tatra khaluṃ satvatanoḥ nṛṇāṃ syuriti
bhāgavata vacanāt tatpradhānatvāt viṣṇoreva śreyaḥ prāpakatvam
| anye tu -

Therefore, because they were spoken by Brahmā who possessed an excess of sattva and the other [guṇas], there is the designation of the Purāṇas as sāttvika and so forth. From the statement, “The greatness of Agni and Śiva is proclaimed in the tāmasa [Purāṇas],” there is the tāmasa nature of the Purāṇas that expound Śiva; and because he is expounded by them, Śiva is tāmasa. Nor does he bring about the highest good, on account of such statements as, “From tamas [arises] delusion indeed.” “From sattva arises knowledge”; and from the Bhāgavata statement, “Indeed, blessings come to men from the embodiment of sattva,” since that is predominant [in him], Viṣṇu alone brings about the highest good. Others, however, [cite]: