"Listen, O King! Five-and-Twenty tales of Vikram and the Vetal" is adapted and retold for children by Deepa Agarwal based on Sivadasa's version of the epic stories.
Published by Puffin Books India, the book has stories of an ascetic who brings his beloved back from the dead, a giant bird that journeys to the underworld to fetch the elixir of life, a servant who sacrifices his life for his ruler, and a woman too beautiful to marry a king; among others.
Agarwal's retelling is based on Sivadasa's version, with one or two stories taken from Jambhaladatta's work.
She says Sivadasa added a preliminary tale that sketches out a connection among King Vikram, the vetal and the sadhu Kshantishila, which binds the three characters in a credible way, adding a motive for their actions.
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"I would describe this book as a retelling that, I hope, will appeal to a 21st-century child. I have not followed Sivadasa's style of alternating prose and poetry, except where the verse adds to the reading experience or helps move the story along.
"I have also filled out the occasionally space patches of storytelling, creating scenes and adding dialogue that would keep a child engaged," she says.
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