Why did Sai Baba punish Kashiram by taking all his money and driving him into debt?

According to the provided passages, Sai Baba's actions were not a punishment but a spiritual lesson intended to help Kashiram. Kashiram had developed pride in his ability to give, feeling distressed if Maharaj did not accept his Dakshina. The text notes that this feeling is an obstacle to spiritual progress. Therefore, to remove this pride, Maharaj began demanding Dakshina until Kashiram's money was gone and he had to borrow. The entire leela, or divine play, was designed to make Kashiram realize he did not have the power to give. Once this realization dawned on him, his anxiety vanished and his financial prosperity returned (Chapter 0).