The vetala 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 vetala would come to the king's aid when needed. Vikramāditya does exactly as told by the vetala and he is blessed by Lord Indra and Devi Kali. The vetala suggests that the king asks the tantric how to perform his obeisance, then take advantage of that moment to behead the sorcerer himself.
The tantric could then gain control over the vetala and sacrifice his soul, thus achieving his evil ambition. Vetal also reveals that now the tantric's plan is to sacrifice Vikram, beheading him as he bowed in front of the goddess. Vetala came to know that the tantric planned to give his brother back to his parents and Vetala 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.
Whereas his brother was taught just what was needed but always well treated. Vetala was taught everything in the world but often ill-treated. His parents did not have a son and a tantric blessed them with twin sons on a condition that both be educated under him. On their way to the tantric, Vetala tells his story. Illustration by Ernest Griset from Burton's Vikram and the Vampire. Probably the best-known English version is that of Sir Richard Francis Burton which is, however, not a translation but a very free adaptation. Several English translations exist, based on Sanskrit recensions and on Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi versions. The Vetala stories are popular in India and have been translated into many Indian vernaculars. The two other major recensions in Sanskrit are those by Śivadāsa and Jambhaladatta. This recension comprises in fact twenty-four tales, the frame narrative itself being the twenty-fifth.
One of its oldest recensions is found in the 12th Book of the Kathasaritsagara ("Ocean of the Streams of Story"), a work in Sanskrit compiled in the 11th century by Somadeva, but based on yet older materials, now lost. It is also known as internationally Vikram-Betaal. Vetala Panchavimshati ( Sanskrit: वेतालपञ्चविंशति, IAST: vetālapañcaviṃśati) or Baital Pachisi (" Twenty-five (tales) of Baital"), is a collection of tales and legends within a frame story, from India. Ernest Griset's depiction of Vikram and the Baital in Richard Francis Burton's 1870 retelling of the story.
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