According to the story of Pundalikrao, what is the relationship between ego and spiritual authority?

The narrative about Pundalikrao in Chapter 51 establishes a clear inverse relationship between ego and spiritual authority. The text explicitly states that the entire episode was a 'play of ego' that Baba helped resolve, making Pundalikrao 'free from pride and guiltless.' The essential lesson drawn from this is that 'the more non-egoistic the state, the more authority one gains in the spiritual path.' This implies that a crucial stage of spiritual progress involves diminishing one's ego. By achieving a non-egoistic state, a person can more easily overcome life's obstacles and advance spiritually.