What was the deeper spiritual lesson behind the incident with Pundalikrao and the lost coconut?

The incident involving Pundalikrao and the lost coconut was not truly about the coconut itself. As explained in Chapter 51, the loss was merely an excuse for Sai Baba to provide counsel that would soothe Pundalikrao's troubled mind. The text clarifies that the entire situation was a 'play of ego' and that Baba's advice helped Pundalikrao become 'free from pride and guiltless.' The core lesson, or the 'essence of this story,' is that the more one can reduce their ego, the more authority they will gain on the spiritual path, which in turn helps them to 'easily cross the ocean of existence.'