Did Sai Baba ever ask for or accept money? How did he differentiate between taking Dakshina and begging?

The texts clarify that Sai Baba did not beg for money, nor did he let his devotees beg. While he did accept Dakshina, it was not for personal accumulation and was often used for a higher purpose. Chapter 36 provides an example where what appeared to be Dakshina was actually a form of debt repayment. A devotee had made a vow to Lord Datta to offer his first month's salary for a job, but he forgot this vow after his prayer was answered. Sai Baba later took money from him, which served as a pretext to remind the devotee of his old, forgotten promise. The source states, "Someone might think he took Dakshina; it was not Dakshina but the repayment of a debt." This illustrates that Sai's acceptance of money was distinct from begging and was often a means to guide his devotees spiritually.