Compassion is always delusive in the ultimate sense. I vow to liberate all sentient beings, even though there are no sentient beings to liberate, and no “I” to do the liberating. This is the great paradox of the Mahayana. Delusion and enlightenment only appear at odds when viewed from delusion. Viewed from enlightenment, they are not two.
The delusion-less path is that of the pratyekabuddha, who enters nirvana without preaching the Dharma-treasure, knowing full-well that there is no one to hear it. Without delusion, there would be no bodhisattvas, no Mahayana.