Thedemon Hirayikaripu said te hi devore som Prahlāda,"O most unfrunate Prahlāda, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above
everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He? If He is everywhere, then why is He not present before me in this pillar? Because you are speaking so much nonsense, 1 shall now sever your head from your body. Now let me see your most worshipable God come to protect you. I want to see it."
Obsessed with anger, Hiraṇyakaśipu thus harshly chastised his exalted devotee-son Prahlāda. Cursing him repeatedly, Hiraṇyakaśipu took up his sword, got up from his royal throne, and with great anger struck his fist against the column.
Then from within the pillar came a fearful sound that seemed to crack the covering of the universe. This sound reached even the abodes of the demigods like Lord Brahmā, and when the demigods heard it, they thought, "Oh, now our planets are being destroyed!"
While showing his extraordinary prowess, Hiraṇyakaśipu heard that wonderful, tumultuous sound, which had never been heard before. Upon hearing the sound, the other leaders of the demons were afraid. None of them could find the origin of that sound in the assembly.
While Hiraṇyakaśipu looked all around to find the source of the sound, a wonderful form of the Lord that was half man and half lion emerged from the pillar. In amazement, Hiraṇyakaśipu wondered, "What is this creature that is half man and half lion? Lord Viṣṇu, who possesses great mystic power, has made this plan to kill me, but what is the use of such an attempt? Who can fight with me?" Thinking like this and taking up his club, Hiraṇyakaśipu attacked the Lord like an elephant.