Vikram and the Vampire · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Vikram and the Vampire by Richard F. Burton.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
Raja Vikram
major
Also known as Vikram, the valorous Raja Vikram, Raja Vikram, The Raja, O Vikram, The valiant Vikram, mighty Vikram, the old Raja, Puzzles Raja Vikram, Vikram the Brave, Vikram the Great, King Vikram, O King Vikram, mighty King Vikram, O warrior King Vikram, Vikram of Ujjayani
Raja Vikram is the warrior monarch bound to carry the Baital to a Yogi, a duty that turns every journey into a battle of wits. He hates flattery yet craves it in his own person, and the Vampire exploits that vanity with barbed asides about one-idea'd fathers and stubborn kings. His mounting fury and refusal to be taught make him both the story's engine and its most reliably baited target.
The Baital
major
Also known as Baital - Pachisi, the Baital, the poor Baital, Many Wise Fools The Baital, Queens The Baital, The Vampire, the Vampire, Vampire
The Baital is the spirit Vikram must deliver, but he turns every mile into a story session, spinning tales of love, villainy, and foolish parents. He flatters and mocks in the same breath, crying out in derision when the king pinches his skin, and coolly dissecting royal vanity as a one-idea'd type. His stories and his conditions keep the quest looping, making him the sly intelligence that governs the book's rhythm.
Prince Vajramukut
supporting
Also known as Vajramukut, the unhappy Vajramukut, the enamoured Vajramukut, The Prince Vajramukut
Prince Vajramukut is a young royal undone by a glimpse of a lotus gatherer, neglecting his father's affairs to paint and tear her portrait in turns. His minister's son, trained to give advice only when asked, watches him fret into a fever before the confession finally spills. His helpless passion sets the tale's machinery of courtship and stratagem in motion.
Jayashri
supporting
Also known as the wicked Jayashri
Jayashri belongs to the Baital's gallery of dangerous women, the kind whose villainy the Vampire cites when weighing the relative treachery of men and women. Her designs entangle the tale's lovers and expose how desire can be weaponized. She matters because she embodies the moral puzzle the Baital keeps posing to Vikram: who is truly to blame when love turns to ruin.
Princess Padmavati
supporting
Also known as Padmavati, The Princess Padmavati, the beautiful Padmavati
Princess Padmavati is the beloved whose image drives Vajramukut to fever and folly, the still center around which his longing spins. Her beauty is celebrated, but her silence and distance make her a riddle the prince cannot solve alone. She anchors the tale's meditation on desire, since possessing her demands cunning as much as passion.
Madhusadan
supporting
Also known as the Yogi Madhusadan, the Yogi
Madhusadan is the ascetic whose charge sends Vikram trudging after the vampire, the hidden hand behind the king's ordeal. His motives stay veiled, but his command gives the quest its shape and its stakes. Without him there is no errand, no tree, no tale — he is the quiet hinge on which the book's frame turns.
Vishnu Swami
minor
Also known as Vishnu
A character appearing in a story told by the Baital.
Manaswi
minor
A character in one of the Baital's tales.
Shridat
minor
Also known as Poor Shridat
A poor man who appears in a vampire story.
Unmadini
minor
Also known as the lovely Unmadini, The beautiful Unmadini, the beautiful Unmadini
A beautiful woman in one of the Baital's tales.
Bhartari-hari
minor
Also known as Raja, Bhartari - hari, the great Bhartari - hari, Bhartari Raja, The Raja, Bhartari, the valorous Raja
A legendary king mentioned in the frame story.
Devasharma
minor
A Brahman or sage in one of the vampire's stories.
Dharma Dhwaj
minor
Also known as Son Dharma Dhwaj
A character in a story within the book.
Muldev
minor
Also known as the Pandit Muldev, Muldev the benevolent, Pandits Muldev
A pandit or wise man in a story within the book.
Shashi
minor
Also known as Shashi the Pandit, Pandit, Pandit Shashi, old Shashi
A pandit character in one of the stories.
Gunakar
minor
A character in one of the Baital's stories.
Dharmadhwaj
minor
A character in a vampire tale.
King Randhir
minor
Also known as Randhir, king Randhir, Raja Randhir
A king who appears in one of the Baital's stories.
Birbal
minor
A wise courtier or character appearing in a tale within the book.
Raja Subichar
minor
Also known as the Raja Subichar, O Raja, Subichar, mighty Raja
A king featured in one of the vampire's narratives.
Shobhani
minor
A female character in a story within the book.
Keshav
minor
Also known as a Brahman, Keshav the Brahman, the Brahman
A Brahman character in one of the stories.
Rajeshwar
minor
Also known as one Rajeshwar, Whereupon Rajeshwar
A character appearing in a tale told by the Baital.
Vasantasena
minor
A female character in one of the Baital's tales.
Madansena Sundari
minor
Also known as Madansena
A beautiful woman appearing in a vampire story.
Sita Rani
minor
Also known as Sita, Sita 88, the disconsolate Sita
A queen in one of the stories told by the Baital.
Rupsen
minor
Also known as the mighty Rupsen
A mighty character in a tale within the book.
Raja Gunshekhar
minor
Also known as Gunshekhar, The Raja
A king featured in one of the Baital's narratives.
Chandraprabha
minor
Also known as Presently Chandraprabha
A princess or female character in a vampire story.
Indra
minor
Also known as King Indra, The god Indra
The king of the gods, mentioned in a story.
Dangalah Rani
minor
Also known as The beautiful Dangalah Rani
A queen in one of the Baital's tales.
Haridas
minor
Also known as Haridas the Brahman, the Brahman
A Brahman character in one of the vampire's stories.
Brahma
minor
Also known as Brahma - daityas
The creator god, referenced in a tale.
Smashana
minor
A character or place associated with cremation grounds in a story.
Raja Ram
minor
Also known as the young Raja Ram
A young king in one of the Baital's tales.
King Mahabul
minor
Also known as Mahabul, 187 King Mahabul
A king appearing in a vampire story.
Mahasani
minor
A character in a tale within the book.
Raja Dantawat
minor
Also known as Dantawat, The Raja, King Dantawat
A king featured in one of the Baital's narratives.
Yama
minor
Also known as Holy Yama, dreadful Yama
The god of death, mentioned in a story.
Kama
minor
Also known as Kama Deva
The god of love, appearing in a tale.
Churaman
minor
A character in one of the vampire's stories.
Princess Chandravati
minor
Also known as Chandravati, the charming Princess Chandravati
A charming princess in a Baital tale.
Madan-manjari
minor
A female character in a story within the book.
Devi
minor
Also known as Devi the Destroyer
A goddess referenced in a tale.
Gandharba-sena
minor
Also known as Gandharba
A character in one of the Baital's stories.
Shiva
minor
The god Shiva, mentioned in a narrative.
Baman
minor
A character in a vampire story.
Vikramaditya
minor
Also known as Sakadhipati - Vikramaditya
A legendary emperor, referenced in the frame story.
Rama Chandra
minor
Also known as Chandra, Rama, the demigod Rama Chandra
The demigod Rama, mentioned in a tale.
Shanta-shil
minor
Also known as Shanta, Shanta Shil
A character in one of the Baital's narratives.
Hemgupt
minor
A character appearing in a vampire story.
Tribikram
minor
Also known as Quoth Tribikram, Quoth
A character in a tale within the book.
Lakshmi
minor
Also known as old Lakshmi, Lakshmi 72, Raj - Lakshmi
A goddess or female character mentioned in a story.
Hiranyadatt
minor
Also known as Hiranyadatt the Baniya
A merchant character in a vampire tale.
Mal Deo
minor
A character in one of the Baital's narratives.
Ratnawati
minor
A female character in a story within the book.
Vishnu Sharma
minor
Also known as Vishnu
A sage or author referenced in a tale.
King Magadheshwar
minor
Also known as Magadheshwar
A king in one of the Baital's stories.
Somdatt
minor
A character appearing in a vampire tale.
Ramachandra
minor
A character or deity mentioned in a story.
Prithwi
minor
Also known as Prithwi Pala
A character in one of the Baital's narratives.
Durga
minor
The goddess Durga, referenced in a tale.
Raja Bali
minor
Also known as the Raja Bali
A king mentioned in a vampire story.
Rati
minor
The goddess of love, appearing in a tale.
Gunshankar
minor
A character in one of the Baital's stories.
Krishna
minor
The god Krishna, mentioned in a narrative.
