Sharat bowed down to Sri Ramakrishna, and as he was about to leave again, the Master asked: “How did you enjoy the day? It was a veritable fair of Hari’s name. Wasn’t it?” Sharat agreed. Then the Master praised the younger Naren: “That dark-complexioned boy has been visiting this place only for a short time, and already he is having ecstasies… . He is a good boy. Please go to his house one day and talk to him. Will you?” Sharat replied, “But, sir, I like no one as much as I do the elder Naren [Vivekananda], so I don’t feel any inclination to visit the younger Naren.” The Master scolded him, saying: “You, brat, are very one-sided! It is a sign of small-mindedness. As the flower tray of the Lord contains various kinds of flowers, so he has all kinds of devotees. It is a sign of narrowness if one cannot mix and have joy with all. You must one day visit the younger Naren. Won’t you?” Sharat promised to visit him and left.
After a few days Sharat went to visit the younger Naren and had a wonderful conversation with him, which solved a great problem of his life. In passing, the younger Naren had said: “Brother, whatever the Master asks us to do is for our good; otherwise, what self-interest does he have?” Immediately Sharat realized why the Master had insisted that he visit the younger Naren. The Master’s every word and action had some deep meaning. Sharat then gave up his study of medicine, so that he could serve the Master wholeheartedly.