What role does the concept of 'Dakshina' play in the narrative about the skeptical visitors in Chapter 35?

In the narrative of Chapter 35, the concept of Dakshina, or monetary offerings, serves as the primary justification for the visitors' skepticism. They believe that a true saint should not have a desire for wealth and use Sai Baba's practice of asking for Dakshina as proof that his "saintliness is diminished." They explicitly state, "We ourselves will not give Dakshina." This resolution is a cornerstone of their prideful stance. However, the story's conclusion, where they surrender at his feet, implies that their initial judgment was misguided and that Sai's act of taking Dakshina had a deeper spiritual purpose that they could not comprehend with their limited, logical minds.