Khāṇḍava-dāha: Indra’s Countermeasures and the Nāga Aśvasena’s Escape (आदि पर्व, अध्याय २१८)
दृष्टवैव तामर्जुनस्य कन्दर्प: समजायत । त॑ तदैकाग्रमनसं कृष्ण: पार्थमलक्षयत्,उसे देखते ही अर्जुनके हृदयमें कामाग्नि प्रज्वलित हो उठी। उनका चित्त उसीके चिन्तनमें एकाग्र हो गया। भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने अर्जुकी इस मनोदशाको भाँप लिया
dṛṣṭvaiva tām arjunasya kandarpaḥ samajāyata | tataḥ tad-eka-agra-manasam kṛṣṇaḥ pārtham alakṣayat ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The moment he saw her, desire arose in Arjuna. His mind became fixed single-pointedly upon her; and Kṛṣṇa perceived that change in Pārtha’s inner state.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how swiftly desire can arise from sense-contact and how it can narrow the mind into fixation; it also underscores the value of awareness—exemplified by Kṛṣṇa—who recognizes inner shifts before they shape action.
After seeing a woman, Arjuna is struck by desire and becomes mentally absorbed in her; Kṛṣṇa notices Arjuna’s altered, one-pointed state.