What was the principle Sai Baba taught when he paid the ladder-man two rupees?

The reason Sai Baba paid the ladder-man two rupees was to teach a fundamental principle about fair compensation. In the incident described in Chapter 19, after using a ladder to climb onto a roof to help a sick devotee, Baba insisted on paying the man who brought it. When his followers expressed curiosity about the seemingly large payment, Baba took the opportunity to give a direct lesson. He answered, 'One should not take the burden of anyone's labor for free, not even a bit.' He stressed that one must always recognize the labor of others and make it a life rule not to accept free work. This act was a practical demonstration of how to conduct oneself ethically in worldly affairs.