Vikram And The Vampire

The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history of a huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and animated dead bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend composed in Sanskrit, and is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which inspired the "Golden Ass" of Apuleius, Boccacio's "Decamerone," the "Pentamerone," and all that class of facetious fictitious literature. The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King Arthur of the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or Magician, brings to him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a tree. It is an old Hindu folk tale that was translated by Sir Richard R. Burton from the original Sanskrit.

A vampire piggybacking on a king's back while spinning stories and riddles! Poor King Vikram! Tasked by the sorcerer Shaitanish to bring him a corpse, he finds that a vampire named Betal has taken residence in it. He’ll come along only if King Vikram lends a willing ear to a series of riddling tales. There’s the one about the world’s most sensitive ladies: Queens Touchmenot, Itsratherhot and Oohmyhead. There’s the tale of the four foolish brothers Nin, Com, Poo and Oops. Each tale is crazier, funnier, madder than the last, and even if King Vikram doesn’t enjoy the journey - you sure will! The story of Vikram and Betal is over a thousand years old. See this much-loved traditional tale come alive with Priya Kuriyan’s fabulous illustrations. Published by Zubaan.

Reproduction of the original: Vikram and the Vampire by Richard F. Burton

11 tales, translated by Burton from the Sanskrit Baital-Pachisi, or 25 Tales of a Baital, "hung on [the] thread" of the "laughable" difficulties faced by King Vikram, "the King Arthur of the East," as he and his son attempt to bring a baitel (vampire) to a magician (p. xi).

11 tales, translated by Burton from the Sanskrit Baital-Pachisi, or 25 Tales of a Baital, "hung on [the] thread" of the "laughable" difficulties faced by King Vikram, "the King Arthur of the East," as he and his son attempt to bring a baitel (vampire) to a magician. Cf. Isabel Burton's "Preface" to the 1893 Memorial Ed., p. xi.

Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (1821-1890) was an English explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, linguist, poet, hypnotist, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia and Africa as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages. He was a captain in the army of the East India Company serving in India. Following this he was engaged by the Royal Geographical Society to explore the east coast of Africa and led an expedition guided by the locals which discovered Lake Tanganyika. His best-known achievements include travelling in disguise to Mecca, making an unexpurgated translation of The Book of One Thousand Nights and a Night. Burton was considered a controversial figure in his day; many considered him a hero, others jealous of his achievements called him a scoundrel. Burton remains possibly the greatest explorer ever because of his remarkable research and uncensored documentation of the lifestyles of the various cultures he encountered in his adventures.