An excerpt from chapter 21 of the Sri Sai Satcharita:
"One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar wished to see Baba. He came to Shirdi, and took Baba's darshan (divine sight). His eyes were appeased, he was much pleased. He fell at Baba's Feet; and after performing proper worship said to Baba - 'I have read a lot, studied Vedas, Vedants and Upanishads and heard all the Puranas, but still I have not got any peace of mind; so I think that all my reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout persons are better than myself. Unless the mind becomes calm, all book-learning is of no avail. I have heard, from many people, that you easily give peace of mind to so many people by your mere glance, and playful word; so I have come here; please take pity on me and bless me.' Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows:
Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)
'Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare passed her stool (nine balls of stool). The merchant, intent on his quest, spread the end of his dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got concentration (peace) of mind.'
Mr. Patankar could not make out the meaning of this story; so he asked Ganesh Damodar, alias Dada Kelkar, a great devotee of Baba - 'What does Baba mean by this?' He replied - 'I too do not know all that Baba says and means, but at His inspiration I say, what I come to know. The mare is God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of Bhakti:
(1) Shravana (Hearing);
(2) Kirtana (Praying);
(3) Smarana (Remembering);
(4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet);
(5) Archana (Worship);
(6) Namaskara (Bowing);
(7) Dasya (Service);
(8) Sakhyatva (Friendship);
(9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self).
These are the nine types of Bhakti. If any of these is faithfully followed, God will be pleased, and manifest Himself in the home of the devotee. All the sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal worship), Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the scriptures and expounding them are quite useless unless they are accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas (sacred texts), or fame as a great Jnani, and mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving Devotion. Consider yourself as the merchant or seeker after the truth and be anxious and eager like him to collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of mind.'
Next day, when Patankar went to Baba for saluation, he was asked whether he collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor fellow, should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be easily collected. Then Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would attain peace and welfare. After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy."
"I love devotion."
