Why were the darveshis who owned the tiger both sad and happy when it died?

The darveshis experienced conflicting emotions for very practical and spiritual reasons. As Chapter 31 explains, they were sad-faced because the tiger was their primary means of livelihood and sustained their family. Its death meant the loss of their income. However, they were also pleased at heart because they understood the profound spiritual significance of what had happened. They recognized that the diseased, near-death creature had attained liberation by dying at the feet of a saint like Sai Baba. This auspicious end for the tiger brought them a sense of peace and satisfaction, even amidst their financial loss.