In plain words
Once, in Shirdi, Baba sat in front of the Dvārakāmāyi ashram, looking at copper coins. Ever so many devotees were waiting. He took no notice of anyone. He sat moving them from that hand to this and from this hand to that. However long they watched, He did not raise His eyes to look at anyone. He spoke to no one. Meanwhile Dāmā came. He was a man who was always with Baba. Dāmā came: 'Baba, so many people are waiting. You are playing at something. What is the secret? Why are You looking at the coins? Are You testing them?' he asked. 'Son, look: not a coin is right. On one side the letters are gone. On another the figure is gone. Another has broken into pieces. Some are dented. I am looking to see which will be of use!' said Baba. 'Throw away the ones of no use; why look at them?' said Dāmā. 'Hey, son, understand. So many devotees are coming. Every one of them looks like the coins, dented and worthless, but I do not see even one who is what I need,' He said. Some come with worldly desires. Some students come wanting to pass their examinations. Some more come wanting marriage. Some come wanting a job. They come wanting promotion; each one comes with a desire of his own, but I do not see even one who wants knowledge of the Ātma. All these are like the coins. I am looking to see who will be of use to Me. Among them there is not even one who listens to what is said. They say they want Swami; how far do they follow Swami's command? When they do not follow it, where is Bhakti? He called Dāmā: Look at that mango tree. It is full of blossom. So many flowers that the leaves cannot be seen! In the end, how many fruits does it bear? How many turn into fruit? They do not. Some flowers drop off in the dew. Some more drop off in the wind. Some become tiny fruit. Some of the tiny fruit drop off. Some grow into fruit. When birds peck the fruit, they fall to the ground. When squirrels nibble them, they drop. If all these flowers became fruit, could the tree bear them?
In the same way Vemana said, 'Ayyā, if all the stones were gods, would not all the kings swallow them?'