Was it guaranteed that a devotee visiting Sai Baba would receive money from him?

No, it was not guaranteed. Chapter 29 explains that while Sai Baba was famously generous and would often distribute money, his actions were unpredictable. The text states, 'he did not give to everyone - no one knew his mind.' Sometimes he would give money, sometimes a sweet, and at other times he would send people back empty-handed. The Satcharita poetically describes receiving this blessing as something that happened only when a person's 'auspicious time had arrived.' Therefore, receiving money from the saint's hand was considered a special 'shell of fortune' obtained only by the fortunate, rather than a predictable transaction.