When Balarāma (Balarama) left his mortal shell on sea-beach, a huge, white serpent [symbol of Anantanāga (Anantanaga), the divine king of serpents, whose incarnation Balarāma is believed to be] emerged out of Balarāma’s mouth and went away into the sea. This form of the deeply revered Anantanāga was warmly welcomed by Varuṇa (Varuna), the Water-God, the Ocean-God, and other principal serpents. Atiṣaṇḍa (Atishanda) was one of the welcoming serpents.