Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 24
विशालानगरीप्रवेशः
Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend
उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलभृतं हरि:।दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु यत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम् ।।1.45.23।।त्वदीयंहि सुरश्रेष्ठ सुराणामग्रजोऽसि यत् ।अग्रपूजामिमां मत्वा गृहाणेदं विषं प्रभो।।1.45.24।।
uvāca enaṃ smitaṃ kṛtvā rudraṃ śūlabhṛtaṃ hariḥ | daivatair mathyamāne tu yat pūrvaṃ samupasthitam || tvadīyaṃ hi suraśreṣṭha surāṇām agrajo 'si yat | agrapūjām imāṃ matvā gṛhāṇedaṃ viṣaṃ prabho ||
Hari, smiling, spoke to Rudra who bears the trident: “O foremost among the gods, since you are the eldest among the celestials, whatever arises first during this churning belongs to you. Accept this as the first honor, O Lord—take this poison.”
Hari, smiling said to the trident-bearing Rudra "O Chief of celestial beings! you were born the earliest among the devatas. Therefore, while churning the ocean whichever is produced first shall be offered to you. Considering it the first offering, O Lord! accept this venom."
FAQs
Dharma includes rightful honor and world-protection: Viṣṇu frames the crisis as an occasion for ‘first honor’ that enables Śiva’s protective act for the welfare of all.
After Hālāhala appears during ocean-churning, Viṣṇu addresses Śiva, requesting him to accept the first product—poison—as the foremost offering.
Leadership through sacrifice: Śiva is positioned as the one capable of bearing what others cannot, for the sake of cosmic safety.