The text claims these are stories, but then describes them as 'the very water of self-bliss.' Isn't that an exaggeration designed to make simple tales seem more important than they are?

The text presents this not as an exaggeration, but as a statement of the narrative's deeper purpose. The introduction to Chapter 36 explicitly states, 'This is not just a story, but the very water of self-bliss; drinking it increases the thirst (for devotion) intensely.' The purpose is to elevate the act of listening beyond mere entertainment, suggesting it is a spiritual practice. According to this chapter, engaging with these stories is meant to remove worldly fatigue and misery, leading the listener to a genuine state of happiness and spiritual welfare.