What is the purpose of the introductory section of Chapter 36, and what story does it lead into?

The introduction to Chapter 36 serves multiple purposes. It acts as a bridge from the previous chapter, setting a tone of devotion and highlighting the spiritual value of the content to follow. It emphasizes that listening to Sai's stories removes worldly misery and brings happiness. As detailed in Chapter 36, the author also establishes that Sai himself is the true narrator, using the author as a medium. After this invocation and praise, the text purifies the ears of the listeners and mouths of the speakers before introducing the next narrative, which is the story of "The Two Gentlemen from Goa."