Shloka 6.76.80
युद्धे अङ्गद-मैन्द-द्विविद-राक्षसयुद्धम्; कुम्भस्य प्रादुर्भावः तथा सुग्रीवेण पराभवः (Sarga 76: Angada and the Vanara chiefs battle Kampana, Prajaṅgha, Yūpākṣa, Śoṇitākṣa; Kumbha enters and is checked by Sugrīva)
तेनसुग्रीववाक्येनसावमानेनमानितः ।अग्नेराज्याहुतस्येवतेजस्तस्याभ्यवर्धत ।।।।
tena sugrīvavākyena sāvamānena mānitaḥ |
agner ājyāhutasyeva tejas tasyābhyavardhata ||
Stung—and yet goaded—by Sugrīva’s words, which flattered even as they carried a note of contempt, his ardor swelled like fire that blazes higher when fed with ghee.
Sugriva's words of flattering royalty captivated Kumbha's fire of energy, which doubled like fire fed with ghee.
Words have moral force: speech that mixes insult and provocation can inflame conflict. Dharmic speech aims to calm, clarify, and uphold truth rather than intensify anger.
Sugrīva’s taunt provokes the opponent; the narration compares the opponent’s rising fury/energy to a fire strengthened by ghee.
The verse highlights the necessity of śama (inner calm) and disciplined response; it shows how easily tejas (energy) can turn into destructive rage when provoked.