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The Vetala Panchavimshati (Sanskrit: वेतालपञ्चविंशति, IAST: vetālapañcaviṃśati),[1][2] or Betal Pachisi ("Twenty-five (tales) of Betal"), is a collection of tales and legends within a frame story, from India. Internationally, it is also known as Vikram-Vetala. It was originally written in Sanskrit.
One of its oldest recensions is found in the 12th book of the Kathasaritsagara ("Ocean of the Streams of Story"),[3] a work in Sanskrit compiled in the 11th century by Somadeva, but based on yet older materials, now lost. This recension comprises in fact twenty-four tales, the frame narrative itself being the twenty-fifth. The two other major recensions in Sanskrit are those by Śivadāsa and Jambhaladatta.
The Vetala stories are popular in India and have been translated into many Indian vernaculars.[4] Several English translations exist, based on Sanskrit recensions and on Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi versions.[5] Probably the best-known English version is that of Sir Richard Francis Burton which is, however, not a translation but a very free adaptation.[6]
- ^ Doniger, Wendy (March 2014). On Hinduism. OUP USA. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-19-936007-9.
- ^ World religions. Eastern traditions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2010. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-19-542676-2.
- ^ Storytelling encyclopedia : historical, cultural, and multiethnic approaches to oral traditions around the world. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press. 1997. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-57356-025-2.
- ^ Penzer 1924, Vol VI, p 225.
- ^ Penzer 1924, Vol VI, p 226.
- ^ Penzer 1924, Vol VI, p 227. Penzer goes on to observe "What Burton has really done is to use a portion of the Vetāla tales as a peg on which to hang elaborate 'improvements' entirely of his own invention."