The text says the darveshis were both sad and pleased when their tiger died. Why would they be pleased?

The darveshis' mixed reaction is explained in Chapter 31. While they were sad because the tiger was their means of livelihood and family sustenance, they were also pleased from a spiritual perspective. They understood that for the diseased and near-death creature to leave its body at the feet of a saint like Sai was an act of immense grace. This death was seen not as a loss, but as the creature attaining liberation, or 'moksha,' and being saved from all its sins. Therefore, their sadness over their material loss was tempered by their joy for the tiger's spiritual salvation.