King Vikramaditya is a legendary emperor of ancient India who is featured in many
traditional Indian stories. Here are some stories about King Vikramaditya:
The rediscovery of Ayodhya
According to one legend, Vikramaditya rediscovered Ayodhya after it was lost for
centuries. He was guided by Prayaga, the king of tirthas, who told him to free a
cow and calf, and Ayodhya would be where the milk flowed from the cow's udder.
Vikram Aur Betaal
In this story, Vikramaditya is tasked with transporting Betaal's corpse silently
from one location to another. During the journey, Betaal's spirit narrates stories
and asks questions, and Vikramaditya must answer each one. Each time he answers,
Betaal returns to the treetop, leaving Vikramaditya short of his destination.
Eventually, Betaal reveals the mendicant's plan to kill Vikramaditya, and
Vikramaditya outsmarts and defeats him.
The Stories of Vikramaditya
This is a collection of folk tales about King Vikramaditya that are generally
believed to have originated between the 11th and 13th centuries. The stories are
didactic, illustrating the generous deeds of a model king and emphasizing moral
lessons.
King Vikramaditya is often described as an ideal king, known for his generosity,
courage, and patronage of scholars. His capital is often said to have been Ujjain.
