Best of Vikram-Baital Tales

As King Vikramaditya was about to reach the crematory, where the hermit was meditating, Baital said to him, “Vikram! I have already forewarned you that the hermit is an evil being. He wants to sacrifice you also in order to enhance his demoniac powers. He will ask you to bow before the sacrificial fire, and […]

King Vikramaditya was happy when Baital promised not to fly away any more. As he walked silently, Baital said to him, “Vikram, we are near the hermit’s place but there is still time for you to listen to my story. It may be the last one.” King Vikramaditya said, “So this will be your twenty-fifth

King Vikramaditya, as usual, walked with Baital on his shoulder when Baital started telling a story as follows:Once upon a time, there lived a rich merchant named Hemdeva in the city of Surya Nagar. He had a lovely daughter named Vidyawati. She was of marriageable age.One day, a young man named Haldhar came to meet

King Vikramaditya reached the peepal tree where the corpse was hanging. He pulled the corpse down and putting it on his shoulder started for the crematory. While walking King Vikramaditya said to Baital, “Do not have any false notions. I am going to take you to the hermit. So, you had better not run away

Baital started telling a story as King Vikramaditya was carrying him:In a place called Choorapur lived a Brahmin by the name of Bhadraavat. One day, he was invited to a wedding. At the wedding he saw a beautiful girl named Lilawati. He fell in love with the girl. The girl also fell in love with

King Vikramaditya, as usual, reached the tree. He pulled down the corpse and put it on his shoulder. Baital said, “The crematory is very far. I will tell you a new story to pass the time.” So, he started telling a story as follows:In the Chedi Desh lived a Brahmin named Dharam Datta. Since he

As King Vikramaditya was carrying Baital, he started telling another story as follows:Many years ago, in Himachal Pradesh ruled a king named Jeemutwahan. He was very proficient and had a religious bent of mind. The King had a son named Agniwahan. Unlike his father, he was of wicked nature. One day, as the King was

King Vikramaditya walked with the dead body when Baital spoke. He said, “Vikram, you will never be able to stop me; try as you might. If I want, I myself will stop escaping.” King Vikramaditya did not say anything. Baital as usual started telling him a story as follows:The king of Swarga Desh had four

King Vikramaditya reached the peepal tree. He put the corpse on his shoulder and, as usual, started for the crematory. Baital who never kept silent said, “Vikram, this forest is very scary. I know you are brave but still…” King Vikramaditya replied, “I consider fear to be a sin.” Baital laughed at this and, as

Baital started off with a new story as usual:In the kingdom of Kusumavati lived a princess named Prabhavati. Her father was King Sadachar. One day, as the princess was strolling in the palace garden, a young man saw her and got attracted to her. But as he walked away in a hurry, he bumped his

King Vikramaditya caught Baital before he could hang upside down on the peepal tree. Putting the dead body on his shoulder, he walked towards the crematory. On the way, Baital remarked, “Vikram, it is for the first time that you have caught me even before I could be in my abode. It seems that you

Baital started telling King Vikramaditya another story as he was carrying him:Once there was a wealthy man. His name was Dhanardhan. He lived in Choorapur. He was a kind-hearted and religious man. But sadly, he had a wife who was of loose character. They had a daughter named Mrignaini. But she too had loose moral

King Vikramaditya, as usual, pulled the corpse down from the tree and put it on his shoulder. He started walking towards his kingdom. Baital could not keep silent and said to him, “While you are walking, let me tell you an interesting story.” Baital then smiled and started off with his story:In the city of

Baital began telling another story to King Vikramaditya as he walked towards his kingdom:Once, two Brahmin brothers lived in the city of Magadha. They were famous for their wisdom. The King of Magadha, Surya Narain, was told about this. So, he appointed both the Brahmin brothers as ministers in his royal court. One day, two