The darveshis were both sad and pleased when their tiger died. Why did they have these conflicting feelings, and what did Sai Baba tell them?

The darveshis' conflicting emotions stemmed from both material loss and spiritual understanding. As described in Chapter 31, they were sad because the tiger was their means of livelihood and family sustenance. However, they were also pleased because they understood that by dying at Sai Baba's feet, the diseased creature had attained liberation from its suffering and sins. When they asked Baba what to do, He reassured them, saying, "do not worry; its end was to happen here." He explained that the tiger was very meritorious and had attained supreme bliss, possibly repaying a karmic debt from a past life. Sai instructed them to bury the tiger near a Shiva temple, ensuring it received a good end.