that that highly intelligent one gave way to diverse reflections.  He did not believe that water to have been tainted with poison, for though dead no corpse-like pallor was on them.  ’The colour on the faces of these my brothers hath not faded!’ And it was thus that Yudhishthira thought.  And the king continued, ’Each of these foremost of men was like unto a mighty cataract.  Who, therefore, save Yama himself who in due time bringeth about the end of all things, could have baffled them thus.’  And having concluded this for certain, he began to perform his ablutions in that lake.  And while he descended into it, he heard these words from the sky, uttered by the Yaksha,—­’I am a crane, living on tiny fish.  It is by me that thy younger brothers have been brought under the sway of the lord of departed spirits.  If thou, O prince, answer not the questions put by me, even thou shalt number the fifth corpse.  Do not, O child, act rashly!  This lake hath already been in my possession.  Having answered my questions first, do thou, O Kunti’s son, drink and carry away (as much as thou requirest)!’ Hearing these words, Yudhishthira said, ’Art thou the foremost of the Rudras, or of the Vasus, or of the Marutas?  I ask, what god art thou?  This could not have been done by a bird!  Who is it that hath overthrown the four mighty mountains, viz., the Himavat, the Paripatra, the Vindhya, and the Malaya?  Great is the feat done by thee, thou foremost of strong persons!  Those whom neither gods, nor Gandharvas nor Asuras, nor Rakshasas could endure in mighty conflict, have been slain by thee!  Therefore, exceedingly wonderful is the deed done by thee!  I do not know what thy business may be, nor do I know thy purpose.  Therefore, great is the curiosity and fear also that have taken possession of me.  My mind is greatly agitated, and as my head also is aching, I ask thee, therefore, O worshipful one, who art thou that stayest here?’ Hearing these words the Yaksha said, ’I am, good betide thee, a Yaksha, and not an amphibious bird.  It is by me that all these brothers of thine, endued with mighty prowess, have been slain!’”

    [66] Samhritya—­killing.

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these accursed words couched in harsh syllabus,[67] Yudhishthira, O king, approaching the Yaksha who had spoken then, stood there.  And that bull among the Bharatas then beheld that Yaksha of unusual eyes and huge body tall like a palmyra-palm and looking like fire or the Sun, and irresistible and gigantic like a mountain, staying on a tree, and uttering a loud roar deep as that of the clouds.  And the Yaksha said, ’These thy brothers, O king, repeatedly forbidden by me, would forcibly take away water.  It is for this that they have been slain by me!  He that wisheth to live, should not, O king, drink this water!  O son of Pritha, act not rashly!  This lake hath already been in my possession.  Do thou, O son of Kunti, first answer my questions, and then take