# Prince Rasalu — Indian Fairy Tales character guide

> Prince Rasalu in Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0021-raja-rasalu

## Snapshot

A tenderhearted prince who frees a cricket from a burning forest and rides toward a rigged game of chaupur with a king who collects heads.

## Who they are

Rasalu is the gallant young hero who travels to play chaupur against King Sarkap, warned by a headless corpse that the dice are enchanted and the stakes are fatal. He is brave to the point of recklessness, but also kind — he saves a cricket from a fire and earns a grateful ally. His journey sets up the early arc's central tension: whether charm, courage, and a small good deed can outwit a king who has already claimed the heads of better men.

## In the story

### [A Lac of Rupees for a Bit of Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/a-lac-of-rupees-for-a-bit-of-advice)

The prince who buys the advice, is banished, and is saved by following the advice.

### [Raja Rasalu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/raja-rasalu)

The protagonist, born under a prophecy, raised in an underground palace, rides out to challenge King Sarkap at chaupur, showing courage and compassion.

### [The Prince and the Fakir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/the-prince-and-the-fakir)

The king's eldest son, taken by the fakir, who outwits and kills him, then frees the captives.

### [XXIII: The Prince and the Fakir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xxiii-the-prince-and-the-fakir)

A prince figure appears in the tale, though not explicitly named in the excerpt.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/prince_rasalu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters