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

The darveshis had a mixed and complex reaction to their tiger's death. As Chapter 31 explains, they were sad-faced because the tiger was their means of livelihood and family sustenance. Its death meant the loss of their income. However, they were also pleased because they understood the spiritual significance of the event. They recognized that the diseased creature had attained liberation by dying at the feet of a great saint like Sai. This conflict between material loss and spiritual gain is why the text notes that the darveshis were simultaneously sad yet also looked pleased at the outcome for the tiger.