Vikram Captures the Vampire

At length, King Vikram and his son reached the second cremation ground, in the midst of which stood the tree Shanta-Shil had spoken about. He saw that a body hung, head downward, by its toes from a low branch. Its eyes were wide open, and it appeared to have no blood, judging by the color of its face. When Vikram touched its skin, it felt ice-cold.

"So this is the wretched son of the oilman," he thought to himself.

He climbed the tree and, with his sword, cut the branch on which the body hung. The body fell to the ground. Vikram slid down the trunk and tried to catch it, but to Vikram's great surprise, the corpse laughed loudly, rose into the air, and suspended itself by its toes to another branch. Vikram realized that the corpse had become a vampire (Baital).

Vikram decided to try again and told his son to capture the vampire the moment it hit the ground. He climbed the tree and severed the branch with his sword. When the vampire fell to the ground, Dharma Dhwaj wrestled with it and managed to apprehend it. Vikram then came down the tree.

"Who are you?" the vampire asked Vikram.

"I am Vikram the Great, King of Ujjayani, and I am taking you to a devotee who wants to use you in his sacrifice."