For a thousand years, the story of King Vikramaditya and the corpse-dwelling vetala has enchanted readers across India and far beyond. Bound by a vow to a mysterious mendicant, the just king must carry a corpse from a cremation ground through the darkness of the night — but the spirit within it will not travel in silence. With every step, the vetala tells a tale of love, greed, loyalty, and deception, and ends with a riddle. If the king answers, the spirit slips away; if he stays silent, his head will burst. What follows is a journey of twenty-five nights, twenty-five tales, and one final test of wisdom. This faithful modern-English edition renders the beloved classic in clear, inviting prose while preserving its wit, wonder, and moral depth, making it as fresh and thought-provoking as the night it was first told. Part of The Sacred Wisdom Library.