Vikram-vetal stories retold for kids

Vikram-vetal stories have hooked the old and the young alike since ages and now a new book retells the wondrous tales of glory, love and honour narrated to the legendary king Vikramaditya by the wily vetal, interspersed with bewildering riddles.

"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.
 

"If you know the answer and do not respond, your head will shatter into pieces!" was the usual refrain of vetal, who used to piggyback on Vikramaditya , narrate the most fascinating tales and ask the most puzzling riddles, leaving the king completely stumped.

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.

"Sivadasa's stories are also briefer and more to the point than, say, Somadeva's. He seems to be more concerned with focussing on moral and ethical issues rather than rounding out the stories with descriptions and events," she says.

The purpose of her book, Agarwal says, is to place in the realm of children's fiction the stories which were written in the distant past for an adult audience.

"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.