STORY OF VIKRAM AND VETAL
🕯️ Origins
The tales of Vikram and Vetal come from the ancient Sanskrit collection called “Vetala Panchavimshati” (which means Twenty-five Tales of the Vampire).
It is part of a larger 11th-century work called “Kathasaritsagara” (The Ocean of Streams of Stories), written by the Kashmiri scholar Somadeva.
These stories are among India’s oldest examples of frame tales — stories within a story — just like The Arabian Nights.
⚔️ The Main Story – The King and the Ghost
Once upon a time, there was a brave and wise king named Vikramaditya, famous for his justice, courage, and devotion to truth.
One night, a tantrik (sorcerer) approached him and said:
“O King, if you bring me the corpse hanging from the old tree in the cremation ground, I can perform a great ritual that will give you immense power.”
King Vikramaditya, known for his promise-keeping nature, agreed. He set out alone at midnight to the haunted cremation ground, where he found the body hanging upside down from a banyan tree.
But the corpse was not ordinary — it was possessed by a clever spirit named Vetal, who loved riddles and stories.
👻 The 25 Stories
Each time Vikram carried Vetal on his shoulder to deliver him to the tantric, Vetal began to tell him a story — a moral or puzzle-filled tale.
At the end of every story, Vetal would ask a question:
“O King, if you know the answer and do not speak, your head will burst into a thousand pieces. But if you speak, I will fly back to the tree!”
Vikram, being just and wise, always answered correctly, and every time he spoke, Vetal escaped back to the tree, laughing.
So, the king had to go through this cycle again and again — twenty-four times.
🔮 The Twenty-fifth Story and the Truth
In the twenty-fifth and final tale, Vetal revealed the true motive of the tantric — he wasn’t trying to perform a holy ritual.
He planned to kill King Vikramaditya during the ceremony and offer his body to gain supernatural powers.
Vetal warned the king and said:
“Now you know the truth. If you are truly wise, you will act carefully.”
When Vikramaditya reached the tantric, he pretended to follow his instructions — but at the crucial moment, he killed the deceitful sorcerer instead.
Vetal then blessed the king, saying his courage, intelligence, and truthfulness had triumphed over evil.
🌟 Moral of the Stories
Each of the 25 stories Vetal tells is a parable — teaching lessons about:
● Justice and truth
● Greed and loyalty
● Wisdom and quick thinking
● Moral judgment in complex situations
They were designed not only to entertain but also to train rulers and listeners to think deeply about right and wrong.
📜 Legacy
These stories have been retold in many Indian languages for centuries — in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, and more.
The popular children’s version you read (like Chandamama, Amar Chitra Katha, or TV’s Vikram aur Vetaal) are simplified retellings of these original tales.
The essence remains the same — a wise king, a witty ghost, and 25 moral dilemmas.
💭 Why we still love it
The charm of Vikram and Vetal lies in its combination of mystery, wit, and wisdom.
Every story ends with a moral twist — reminding us that true wisdom is not about power, but about understanding human nature and doing what’s right.
Let’s relive one of the most famous tales from the Vikram and Vetal collection — the kind that truly captures their clever, question-filled exchanges.
THE THREE PRINCES AND THE SINGLE BRIDE
(As told by Vetal to King Vikramaditya)
Once, there was a great king named Gandharvasen, who had a beautiful and intelligent daughter named Chandravati.
When she came of age, many princes sought her hand in marriage. To decide who deserved her, the king declared that the one who proved his true worth would win her.
Three brave princes from neighbouring kingdoms came forward. But before any test could be set, a tragic event occurred —
Chandravati suddenly fell ill and died.
Her body was placed on a sandalwood pyre in the royal cremation ground, and the three princes, heartbroken, could not bear to leave her side.
🌸 The Three Acts of Love
Prince One: Out of devotion, he took the ashes of Chandravati and kept them safely in a sacred urn, vowing to protect them forever.
Prince Two: He gave up royal life and became an ascetic, wandering the land in grief. One day, while staying at a Brahmin’s house, he read from a book of magic spells that described how to bring the dead back to life.
Prince Three: He built a beautiful shrine at the cremation site and stayed there, worshipping and guarding it every day.
🔮 The Miracle
One day, all three princes returned to that spot together.
The second prince, with his magical knowledge, used the spell to revive Chandravati.
To everyone’s wonder, she rose — alive and radiant again!
Now came the question that puzzled all — Who should marry her?
🧠 Vetal’s Question
After finishing the story, Vetal asked King Vikramaditya:
“O King, each prince loved Chandravati in his own way.
One guarded her ashes, one learned magic to bring her back, and one built a shrine for her.
Tell me — who truly deserves to be her husband?”
And remember, if the King knew the answer and stayed silent, his head would burst — but if he spoke, Vetal would fly back to the tree!
👑 Vikramaditya’s Answer
The wise king replied:
“The prince who brought her back to life by his magical knowledge acted as her father, not her husband, for he gave her life again.
The one who built the shrine is like her priest, for he performed acts of worship.
But the one who guarded her ashes with devotion, love, and faith — he is her true husband.”
Vetal smiled, clapped his ghostly hands, and — as always — flew back to the tree, leaving Vikram to chase him once again!
🌟 Moral of the Story
True love is not about miracles or rituals, but about loyalty and steadfast devotion — the love that endures even when all hope seems lost.
