Immortal Spirit & Riddler• Granth: Betal Pachisi
Betal (The Vampire Ghoul)
बेताल
A cunning, celestial spirit dwelling inside a hanging corpse upon the ancient Shinshapa tree, challenging King Vikramaditya with 25 unsolvable moral riddles.
Known Epithets & Aliases
The Spectral SageThe Corpse SpiritVetal
Significance & Lore
Betal uses storytelling as a weapon of wit. He tests the king's intellect under the threat of cosmic doom: "If you know the truth and do not speak, your head shall shatter into a hundred pieces!"
Appearing In Comic Chapters (26)
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 0
The Origin: The Monk's Secret Ruby & The Midnight Oath
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 1
The Midnight Oath & The Secret Signs of Padmavati
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 2
The Three Suitors & The Sanjeevani Resurrection
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 3
The Battle of Sexes: The Scholar Parrot & The Wise Myna
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 4
The Incomparable Sacrifice of Veervara
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 5
Somaprabha & The Three Prodigies
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 6
The Mystery of the Transposed Heads
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 7
Sattvasheel & The Sunken Ocean Palace
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 8
The Three Delicate Queens of Dharmadhvaja
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 9
Princess Anangarati & The Four Craftsmen
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 10
Madansena & The Robber's Honor
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 11
The Sage Hariswami & The Poison in the Alms Bowl
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 12
The Three Fastidious Brothers
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 13
The Unfailing Devotion of Jimutavahana
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 14
The Merchant's Daughter & The Condemned Thief
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 15
The Resurrection of the Dead Lion
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 16
The King, the Brahman Youth & The Demon
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 17
Chandraswami & The Guru's Grand Illusion
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 18
The Intricate Knot of Royal Kinship
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 19
The Master Thief & The Fearless Princess
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 20
The Brahman Boy Who Laughed at Death
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 21
Anangamanjari & The Tragic Oath of Love
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 22
The Four Scholarly Brothers & The Resurrected Beast
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 23
The Aghori Ascetic & The Transmigrated Soul
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 24
The Unbreakable Kinship Conundrum
Betal Pachisi — The 25 Tales of Vikram & Betal• Ch. 25
Grand Finale: The Slaying of Sorcerer Shantisheel
Key Attributes & Weapons
- ✦Sharp Philosophical Wit
- ✦Supernatural Flight
- ✦Riddle Weaver
- ✦The Mocking Cackle
Related Characters
Canonical Reference
Detailed ontological and textual analysis available on BharatKosha.
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