Aśvatthāmā’s Stuti of Rudra and Śiva’s Empowerment (सौप्तिकपर्व, अध्याय ७)
कुर्वता तात सम्मान त्वां च जिज्ञासता मया | पज्चाला: सहसा गुप्ता मायाश्र बहुश: कृता:,“तात! उन्हींका सम्मान और तुम्हारी परीक्षा करनेके लिये मैंने पांचालोंकी सहसा रक्षा की है और बारंबार मायाओंका प्रयोग किया है
kurvatā tāta sammānaṁ tvāṁ ca jijñāsatā mayā | pāñcālāḥ sahasā guptā māyāś ca bahuśaḥ kṛtāḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ— ତାତ! ତୁମ ସମ୍ମାନ କରିବାକୁ ଓ ତୁମକୁ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କରିବାକୁ ମୁଁ ପାଞ୍ଚାଳମାନଙ୍କୁ ସହସା ରକ୍ଷା କଲି, ଏବଂ ବହୁବାର ମାୟାମୟ ଉପାୟ ଲାଗୁ କଲି।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the tension between honor and the use of māyā (stratagem/deception): even when one claims a motive of respect or examination, repeated resort to ruse raises ethical questions about means versus ends in wartime conduct.
Sañjaya reports that, to honor the addressed person and to test them, he ensured the Pāñcālas were suddenly kept safe/guarded and that he repeatedly used tactical devices (māyā) to manage the situation.