Vikram and Betaal (Baital Pachisi) — The King and the Vampire
King Vikramaditya of Ujjain is challenged by a sorcerer to capture a mischievous spirit called Betaal (Vetala) who hangs from a tree in a cremation ground. Each time Vikram tries to carry Betaal back to the sorcerer, the spirit tells a riddle-like story ending with a moral question. If Vikram answers correctly (which he cannot help but do), Betaal escapes back to the tree. This cycle of 25 tales forms a frame story that tests the king's wisdom, justice, and self-control, weaving complex moral dilemmas about loyalty, duty, truth, and the nuances of right action in impossible situations.