How did the darveshis who owned the tiger react to its death, and why were their feelings so mixed?

The reaction of the darveshis was complex, marked by both sadness and pleasure. Chapter 31 explains this duality clearly. On one hand, they were sad-faced because, as Verse 158 notes, the tiger was their means of livelihood and their family's sustenance; its death represented a significant material loss. On the other hand, Verse 142 mentions they also looked pleased. This was because they understood the spiritual fortune of what had just occurred. They recognized that the diseased, near-death creature had attained liberation by dying at the feet of a great saint like Sai. This understanding of the tiger's supreme spiritual gain tempered their worldly sorrow.