The celestials who were afflicted by the sighs of the serpent [Vasuki, used as a rope with the Mandara Mountain as a churning rod], were comforted by Hari (Visnu). As the ocean was being churned the mountain being unsupported entered into the water. Then Visnu assumed the form of a tortoise and supported the (Mount) Mandara. From the milky ocean which was being churned, first came out the poison known as Halahala. That poison being retained by Hara (Siva) in his neck, Siva became (known to be) Nilakantha (blue-necked). Then the goddess Varuni (The female energy of the celestial god Varuna), the Parijata (tree) and the Kaustubha (gem) came out of the ocean.