In the story of the tiger, why were the darveshis described as being both sad and pleased when it died?

The darveshis' conflicting emotions are detailed in Chapter 31. They were sad-faced because the tiger was their means of livelihood and their family's sustenance; its death represented a significant material loss for them. However, they were also pleased at heart because they understood the spiritual significance of what had happened. They recognized that the diseased, near-death creature had attained liberation by leaving its body at the feet of a great saint like Sai Baba. As Chapter 31 explains, they knew this was a path to salvation and a blessed end for the animal, which brought them a sense of peace despite their financial concerns.