# The Vampire's First Story explained — Vikram and the Vampire

> Chapter companion for Vikram and the Vampire by Richard F. Burton.

## What happens

Prince Vajramukut, while hunting, encounters Princess Padmavati at a forest tank and falls in love. With the help of his friend, he devises a plan to win her. A yogi (actually the friend in disguise) falsely accuses Padmavati of witchcraft, leading her father King Dantawat to banish her. Vajramukut rescues her and they marry. The Baital asks who is most to blame; Vikram judges King Dantawat as most at fault.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Truth

The minister's son deceives King Dantawat by posing as a yogi and falsely accusing Padmavati of witchcraft, leading to her banishment.

### Love and Marriage

Prince Vajramukut and Princess Padmavati fall in love at first sight and eventually marry after overcoming obstacles.

### Gender Roles and Women's Status

Padmavati is banished based on a false accusation without proper investigation, reflecting women's vulnerability in patriarchal society.

### Wisdom and Folly

King Dantawat's hasty judgment and failure to see through the trick is contrasted with Vikram's wise assessment that the father is most at fault.

## Character check-ins

### Prince Vajramukut

The eighth son of King Pratapamukut, who falls in love with Padmavati at first sight.

### Princess Padmavati

Daughter of King Dantawat, who reciprocates Vajramukut's love and is later banished for alleged witchcraft.

### Raja Dantawat

Padmavati's father, who is deceived by the yogi's accusation and banishes his daughter.

### Raja Vikram

The listener who judges Dantawat as most at fault in the story.

### The Baital

The storyteller who poses the moral question and escapes after Vikram's answer.

### Dharma Dhwaj

Vikram's son, who briefly interrupts to blame Padmavati.

## Key lines

> The prince and his friend wondered when they saw the beautiful tank in the midst of a wild forest, and made many vain conjectures about it.

The prince and his companion were amazed to find a beautiful reservoir deep in the jungle and speculated about its origin.

_Describes the initial discovery of the tank where the encounter occurs._

> She raised her eyebrows a little. There is nothing which women despise in a man more than modesty

She lifted her eyebrows slightly, showing that women dislike excessive shyness in men.

_Highlights the theme of gender expectations in courtship._

> Since Padmavati is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. I will verily go forth and consult the spiritual preceptor.

Because Padmavati is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. I will go and seek advice from the spiritual teacher.

_Shows King Dantawat's rash decision based on the false accusation._

> For my part I think Padmavati was the worst, she being at the bottom of all their troubles

In my opinion, Padmavati is most to blame because she caused all the problems.

_Dharma Dhwaj's initial judgment, later overruled by Vikram._

> But the Raja, a prince, a man of a certain age and experience, a father of eight! He ought never to have been deceived by so shallow a trick

But the king, being an experienced ruler and father of eight, should not have been fooled by such a simple trick.

_Vikram's reasoning for blaming King Dantawat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vikram_and_the_vampire_se/chapters/the-vampire-s-first-story
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vikram_and_the_vampire_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vikram_and_the_vampire_se/chapters