Alex Salmond asked MSPs to back his call for Holyrood to set the date of a referendum on Scottish independence on Thursday.
The first minister attempted to get backing for the date of any ballot to be set in Scotland, not Westminster.
"The people of Scotland spoke in the election and their voice was very clear indeed," he told the Scottish parliament.
"A referendum orgainsed in Scotland, built in Scotland, for the Scottish people, discussed with civic Scotland and then brought to the people in 2014 for a historic decision on the future of this nation."
But Salmond was challenged by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, who has called on the SNP to hold cross-party talks to organise a timetable and a question for referendum.
""What's he frightened of?", she asked. "He says independence will be the cure of all Scotland's ills. The economy will be transformed by what his spin doctors say are job-creating powers. His finance minister says we'll be the sixth richest nation on earth. Scotland will be free and proud.
"He is Moses who has led his people to the brink of the promised land but, as they view it from the mountain tops, says to them, 'let's camp outside for a few more years before we go in'."
The latest YouGov polls show a third of Scottish people support independence, which the SNP have said shows growing support for their cause.
Pro-unionists, however, are organising a fight back with Alistair Darling and Charles Kennedy being lined up to support a campaign to keep the United Kingdom together.
And they are likely to highlight the economic benefit of staying in the UK, with recent reports suggesting Scotland may not have an AAA credit rating were it to become independent.
On Wednesday, David Cameron and Ed Miliband shared a rare moment of unity in the Commons as they pledged to fight for the future of the United Kingdom.
After the threat of an independent Scotland was raised at PMQs the prime minister said he was "100%" in agreement with the Labour leader that the UK was "stronger together."
Westminster politicians have been wrangling with the SNP for days over the timing of any referendum on Scottish independence, and the questions that will be asked.
Salmond has accused Westminster of trying to interfere in Scottish affairs, and said Cameron should "butt out", and said the prime minister was being Thatcher-esque.
Ministers have drawn up what's called a Section 30 Order, which would allow Scotland to hold a referendum without asking Westminster for permission, however this order needs to be agreed by both the parliaments in London and Edinburgh first.
However it has attached a rider to the order, suggesting a deadline for the referendum should be agreed before the law is changed.
SNP ministers have not so far set out what question - or questions - they expect to be put to voters.