What does the story of the tiger reveal about the concepts of karma, curses, and redemption?

The story of the tiger, as detailed in Chapter 31, serves as a powerful illustration of karma and redemption. The text speculates that the tiger's state was the result of past actions, suggesting it was once a person who insulted a holy devotee and received a curse, leading to its "cruel birth." However, its death before Sai Baba is seen as the breaking of these karmic bonds. This event is described as a "counter-curse" coming to fruition, where Sai's darshan burned away the tiger's sin and suffering. This implies that even the most severe karmic debts and curses can be nullified through the grace and presence of a true saint, leading to salvation and freedom from the "iron chain of attachment" and the cycle of rebirth.