Yama was a young boy a long time ago. Now, there were many gods that lived in the sky. They watched over the mortals and made sure that they were protected. One day, Yama went for a walk. He grew weary, so he laid down to take a rest. While he was asleep, the gods spoke to him. They told him that he would see three different people and that he must choose whom he wanted to follow. Each person would present a gift to him as he walked by them and he must choose.

Yama stood up and began walking. Soon, he came to a clearing. There stood a beautiful maiden. She held all the riches in the world. Yama stared at her, wondering what he could possibly want after that. However, he looked at the other two people. A king stood next to the maiden. The king held his crown out to Yama. Yama could be the king if he chose that person!

Yama forced himself to look at the next person, however. It was a wrinkled old hag. Her tattered clothes hung upon her bent figure. She reached out to Yama, however, there was nothing in her hands. Yama asked her, "What is your gift to me?" She told him, "My friendship, which is the greatest gift in the world." Yama laughed. Why would he accept the friendship of this old and ugly woman?

He turned his back upon her and walked back to the maiden. The maiden reached to hand him the riches, however, as she handed them to him, they grew tarnished. Yama shrieked, "Why is this happening?" The maiden rose up in the sky and transformed. She was the old woman! The old woman said, "You did not judge me by the inside appearance. For this, you will be punished."

And that is why Yama still roams the earth as the form of an old man, searching for someone who will accept his gift of friendship. Until then, he is doomed to roam forever.