vyāptiṁ ca bhūteṣv akhileṣu cātmanaḥ

vyāptiṁ ca bhūteṣv akhileṣu cātmanaḥ

adṛśyatātyadbhuta-rūpam udvahan

stambhe sabhāyāṁ na mṛgaṁ na mānuṣam

To prove the words of his servant that he is present in all objects to be true, the Lord showed an astonishing form which was neither animal nor human to the assembly.

Prahlāda had said that the Lord was present in the pillar. To prove those words of his servant true, to make that truth visible, the Lord appeared. And to make true the statement that his form was spread everywhere, in Nṛsiṁha and other forms, he became visible in the pillar where he had been invisible. He took a form in the assembly which was not related to animal forms nor was it a human form. His servant Hiraṇyakaśipu had prayed not to die from created living being, and also prayed not to die inside or outside, and not by man or beast. The Lord appeared in that form to make that prayer true. He was not a being created by Brahmā, he was not an animal, nor a human, nor was he situated within the assembly hall, nor outside in the yard. Some people also say that he appeared in that form to prove the words of his servants like Nārada to be true. The Lord says “Kaunteya, my devotee never perishes.” (BG 9.31) And Nārada said to Hiraṇyakaśipu, “You will not be able to kill this child.” (SB 7.7.10) Hiraṇyakaśipu said “Perhaps I will die because of my hatred of Prahlāda.” (SB 7.5.47) When Hiraṇyakaśipu made his request, Brahmā had said “Let it be.” 

|| 7.8.18 ||

sa sattvam enaṁ parito vipaśyan

stambhasya madhyād anunirjihānam

nāyaṁ mṛgo nāpi naro vicitram

aho kim etan nṛ-mṛgendra-rūpam

Looking all around as the creature emerging from the pillar, Hiraṇyakaśipu thought, “This remarkable being is neither an animal nor a human. What is this man-lion form?”

Looking all around the pillar at the being emerging from the pillar, he thought (verb is missing), “What is it?”

|| 7.8.19-22 ||