Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः
मायया तस्य ते दैत्याः पुरत्रयनिवासिनः श्रौतं स्मार्तं च संत्यज्य तस्य शिष्यास्तदाभवन्
māyayā tasya te daityāḥ puratrayanivāsinaḥ śrautaṃ smārtaṃ ca saṃtyajya tasya śiṣyāstadābhavan
तस्य मायया ते दैत्याः पुरत्रयनिवासिनः श्रौतं स्मार्तं च संत्यज्य तस्य शिष्यास्तदाभवन्।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Tripura episode within the Purana’s frame dialogue)
It contrasts dharma-aligned discipline (supportive of Śiva-bhakti and inner purification) with māyā-driven deviation; Linga worship, in Shaiva Siddhanta, is meant to loosen pāśa (bondage), not deepen it through delusion.
Indirectly, it highlights that māyā can bind the paśu when misdirected; Shiva-tattva as Pati is the liberator beyond māyā, while delusive powers operate as instruments that test discernment in the cosmos.
The verse points to the abandonment of śrauta and smārta observances—implying that authentic sādhana requires steadiness in dharma and right initiation, not a turn toward misleading discipleship that increases pāśa.