The Lake
The Pandavas were exhausted. A Brahmin's sacred fire-sticks had been carried away by a deer; they had searched all day. At the edge of a beautiful lake, one by one Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, and Bhima went to drink. Each was warned by a voice not to drink before answering. Each ignored it and fell dead.
Yudhishthira found all four brothers dead on the shore.
The Yaksha Speaks
A voice from the lake: "I am a Yaksha. I warned your brothers. Answer my questions or join them."
Yudhishthira agreed.
The Yaksha asked dozens of questions — about dharma, about the cosmos, about life and death. Yudhishthira answered each one:
"What is heavier than the earth?" A mother.
"What is taller than the sky?" A father.
"What is faster than wind?" The mind.
"What is more numerous than grass?" Worries.
"What does not close its eyes when asleep?" A fish.
"Who is truly happy?" One who cooks his food at home, is free from debt, and does not travel away.
"What is the greatest wonder of the world?" Every day, beings die — and yet the living think they will live forever.
The Revelation
The Yaksha was satisfied. He offered to revive one brother. Yudhishthira asked for Nakula — his stepbrother, Madri's son.
The Yaksha, surprised, asked why not Arjuna or Bhima — the mighty ones?
Yudhishthira said: "Kunti's son lives — that is myself. Let Madri's son also live."
The Yaksha revealed himself as Yama, Yudhishthira's divine father. He revived all four brothers. He had been testing his son.