1. Krishna
Krishna uses deceitful methods in order to get victory,
Mahabharata 9.61.61-62
From desire of doing good to you, I repeatedly applied my powers of illusion and caused them to be slain by diverse means in battle. If I had not adopted such deceitful ways in battle, victory would never have been yours, nor kingdom, nor wealth! Those four were very high-souled warriors and regarded as Atirathas in the world. The very Regents of the Earth could not slay them in fair fight! Similarly, the son of Dhritarashtra, though fatigued when armed with the mace, could not be slain in fair fight by Yama himself armed with his bludgeon! You should not take it to heart that this foe of yours has been slain deceitfully. When the number of one’s foes becomes great, then destruction should be effected by contrivances and means. The gods themselves, in slaying the Asuras, have trod the same way. That way, therefore, that has been trod by the gods, may be trod by all. We have been crowned with success.” (source)
Krishna and Balarama Vs the Yavana Army,
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.52.5-8
The Lord again returned to the city of Mathura which was still besieged by the Yavana army. He annihilated the Yavana army and carried of their wealth as spoils to Dvaraka. While the wealth was being transported on the backs of men and oxen under the direction of the Imperishable Lord, Jarasandha, commanding an army of twentythree aksauhinis arrived on the scence. Observing their violent onrush of inimical forced, Balarama and Krsna, the descendants of Madhu adopted the human way of life and quickly began to run, Oh king. Though dauntless, they left the vast treasure (the spoils from the Yavana army) and similating terrified cowards, they ran for many yojanas on foot, tender like lotuspetals.” (source)
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.52.10-12
Apparently exhausted after fleeing a long distance, the two Lords climbed a high mountain named Pravarsana, upon which Lord Indra showers incessant rain. Although he knew They were hiding on the mountain, Jarāsandha could find no trace of Them. Therefore, O King, he placed firewood on all sides and set the mountain ablaze. The two of Them then suddenly jumped from the burning mountain, which was eleven yojanas high, and fell to the ground.” (source)
2. Shiva
Shiva ran away with fear from a demon,
Parables of Rama 37.205
Lord Shiva (the light of the Seed-body) once gave a boon to the demon Bhasmasura that anything on which he would place his hand will be burnt to ashes. On getting this power, he wanted to try it on Lord Shiva Himself. Realizing this, Shiva ran away from the demon. But the demon would not let Shiva go. He continued to chase Him (Shiva). It appeared that the demon was sure to catch hold of Shiva and destroy Him. But will he really destroy Him?” (source)
Shiva used deceitful ways to decapitate Ganesha,
Shiva Purana 2.4.16.7-13
O sage, after fighting for a long time along with the army and seeing him terrific, even Shiva was greatly surprised. Thinking within himself, “He has to be killed only by deception and not otherwise” he stayed in the midst of the army. Then Ganesha the heroic son of Sakhti following the course of heroes, at first worshipped (i.e., struck) Vishnu with his staff, Visnu who confers happiness to all. “I shall cause him delusion. Then let him be killed by you, lord. Without deception he cannot be killed. He is of Tamasika nature and inaccessible.” (source)
3. Vishnu
Vishnu beheads the demons by assuming the form of a Woman,
Agni Purana 3.12-15
Taking ambrosia from his hands the Daityas gave half of it to the gods and went away with the other half. Vishnu, the root of creation, then assumed the form of a (beautiful) damsel. Beholding her endued with beauty, the Daityas, overcome with fascination, said ‘Be our wife, take this ambrosia, O fair one and make us partake of it.’ Saying ‘So be it’ Hari took it from them and made the celestials drink of it. Assuming the form of the moon Rahu drank up the portion offered to the sun and moon and therefore his head was severed off his head by his enemy Hari. He then said to Hari, the giver of boon. ‘By thy mercy I have attained immortality.” (source)
Vishnu is said to have practiced deception,
Gita 10.36
I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong.” (source)
Swami Prabhupada comments on this verse,
“There are many kinds of cheaters all over the universe. Of all cheating processes, gambling stands supreme and therefore represents Kṛṣṇa. As the Supreme, Kṛṣṇa can be more deceitful than any mere man. If Kṛṣṇa chooses to deceive a person, no one can surpass Him in His deceit. His greatness is not simply one-sided – it is all-sided…” Swami Prabhupada on Gita 10.36 (source)
Brahmanda Purana 3.24.6
Lord Vishnu the most excellent among all persons is reputed to be a Mayavi.” (source)
‘Maya’, ‘Mayinam’, ‘Mayavi’ means fraud, deception, or illusion.
Narada Purana 2.52.55
Mayavin one who has Maya (deception).” (source)
Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.9.18
This venerable Lord is veritable Narayana the Primeval Man who deluding the world with his power called Maya (illusion) moves incognito among the Vrsnis.” (source)
4. Ashvins
Rig Veda 5.78.5
Tree, part asunder like the side of her who bringeth forth a child. Ye Aśvins, listen to my call: loose Saptavadhri from his bonds.” (source)
5. Mitra-Varuna
Rig Veda 5.63.4
Your deevice, Mitra and Varuṇa, is manifested in heaven, when the light (that is) the sun, your wonderful weapon, moves (in the firmament); him you invest in the sky with the cloud (and) with rain; and (your) sweet drops, Parjanya, fall (at their desire).” (source)
6. Indra
Rig Veda 1.11.7
Indra, thou didst kill by stratagem, the wily Sushna; the intelligent know thy (greatness); multiply their food.” (source)
Shrimad Bhagavatam 8.11.3-4
Indra the wielder of Vajra, spoke to him as follows: Just as a roguish conjuror makes gullible persons as if blind folded by his conjuring tricks (and incantations) and robs them of their money, you desire to conquer us, the masters of such Mayas (black magic and illusory tricks) with your Maya, Oh fool.” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 6.7.18-40
O King! Everywhere then there was this gossip in the assemblages of the gods, in their gardens, at the meetings of the Gandharbas that Indra had deceived Vritra who had relied on him, on the words of the Munis and then killed him by pretext, and so had done, indeed, a horrible crime…” (source)
7. The God-Heads
The Gods fled with fear after getting defeated by a Demon,
Devi Bhagavatam 5.7.4-11
Seeing the Dānava, Vāsudeva Hari raised his discus in anger and attacked him with great force to kill him. Just when Hari struck the Dānava violently with his Cakra, the powerful Dānava quitted immediately his lion-form, assumed the buffalo form and struck Hari with his two horns. Vāsudeva, thus pierced in his breast with the horns, became confounded and fled away as best as he could till he reached his own abode, Vaikunṭha. Seeing Hari thus fleeing away, Śaṅkara, too, thought him invulnerable and fled to his Kailāśa mountain with fear. Brahmā, too, fled to his own abode with terror…” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 7.33.1-19
I am the “Sutrâtman, Hiranyagarbha that resides in subtle bodies and it is I that am the Virât, residing in the gross bodies. I am Brahmâ, Visnu, and Mahes’vara; I am the Brâhmâ, Vaisnavi and Raudrî S’aktis. I am the Sun, I am the Moon, I am the Stars; I am beast, birds, Chandâlas and I am the Thief, I am the cruel hunter; I am the virtuous highsouled persons and I am the female, male, and hermaphrodite. There is no doubt in this. O Mountain! Wherever there is anything, seen or heard, I always exist there, within and without, There is nothing moving or unmoving, that can exist without Me…” (source)
According to the Varaha Purana, it’s mentioned that a divine scripture will be created to delude/deceive people during the Kali Yuga,
Varaha Purana 71.54-55
This Samhita was named Nissvasa, and Babhravya and Sandila were absorbed in it. Deluded by me, people out of selfish motives, will promulgate their own sastras in Kaliyuga.” (source)
