Betal Pachisi (Vikram Betal Stories) in Hindi

Authored by Betal Bhatt, Betal Pachisi is a collection of 25 stories as told by Betal to king Vikramaditya.

The legendary king Vikramaditya (Vikram) promises a vamachari (a tantric sorcerer) that he will capture a betal, a celestial spirit Pishacha, celestial spirit who hangs from a tree and inhabits and animates dead bodies.

King Vikram faces many difficulties in bringing the Betal to the tantric. Each time Vikram tries to capture the Betal, it tells a story that ends with a riddle. If Vikram cannot answer the question correctly, the vampire consents to remain in captivity. If the king knows the answer but still keeps quiet, then his head shall burst into thousand pieces. And if King Vikram answers the question correctly, the vampire would escape and return to his tree. He knows the answer to every question; therefore the cycle of catching and releasing the vampire continues twenty-four times.

On the twenty-fifth attempt, the Betal tells the story of a father and a son in the aftermath of a devastating war. They find the queen and the princess alive in the chaos, and decide to take them home. In due time, the son marries the queen and the father marries the princess. Eventually, the son and the queen have a son, and the father and the princess have a daughter. The Betal asks what the relation between the two newborn children is. The question stumps Vikram. Satisfied, the Betal allows himself to be taken to the tantric.

On their way to the tantric, Betal tells his story. His parents did not have a son and a tantric blessed them with twin sons on a condition that both be educated under him. Betal was taught everything in the world but often ill-treated. Whereas his brother was taught just what was needed but always well treated. Betal came to know that the tantric planned to give his brother back to his parents and Betal instead would be sacrificed as he was an 'all- knowing kumara' and by sacrificing him the tantric could be immortal and rule the world using his tantric powers. Betal also reveals that now the tantric's plan is to sacrifice Vikram, beheading him as he bowed in front of the goddess. Then tantric could then gain control over the Betal and sacrifice his soul, thus achieving his evil ambition. The Betal suggests that the king asks the tantric how to perform his obeisance, then take advantage of that moment to behead the sorcerer himself. Vikramaditya does exactly as told by Betal and he is blessed by Lord Indra and Devi Kali. The Betal offers the king a boon, whereupon Vikram requests that the tantric's heart and mind be cleaned of all sins and his life be restored as a good living being and that the Betal would come to the king's aid when needed.

बेताल पच्चीसी पच्चीस कथाओं से युक्त एक कथा ग्रन्थ है। इसके रचयिता बेतालभट्ट बताये जाते हैं जो न्याय के लिये प्रसिद्ध राजा विक्रम के नौ रत्नों में से एक थे। ये कथायें राजा विक्रम की न्याय-शक्ति का बोध कराती हैं। बेताल प्रतिदिन एक कहानी सुनाता है और अन्त में राजा से ऐसा प्रश्न कर देता है कि राजा को उसका उत्तर देना ही पड़ता है। उसने शर्त लगा रखी है कि अगर राजा बोलेगा तो वह उससे रूठकर फिर से पेड़ पर जा लटकेगा। लेकिन यह जानते हुए भी सवाल सामने आने पर राजा से चुप नहीं रहा जाता।

App Icon credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vikram_vetal.png