Obstacles in spiritual life make a devotee strong. For those who surrender themselves to God, God removes all obstacles and makes everything favourable. Balaram was happy to be able to serve the Master. In the latter part of 1885, however, about the same time that Sri Ramakrishna was transferred from Dakshineswar to Shyampukur for treatment of his cancer, Balaram’s cousin Harivallabh came to Calcutta. Harivallabh was disturbed by the news he was getting about Balaram. He had heard from different people that Balaram was very much involved with Sri Ramakrishna; that Sri Ramakrishna visited their home quite often; and that the women of their family even took the dust of the Master’s feet, a custom considered beneath the dignity of their family. Balaram continued to visit Sri Ramakrishna every day, but he was worried that this cousin might make trouble and force him to move away at this crucial time in the Master’s life.
It was difficult to hide anything from Sri Ramakrishna’s eyes. Seeing Balaram’s worried and gloomy face, the Master asked him some questions and found out that this cousin was the cause of his anxiety. Then the Master asked: “What sort of man is he [Harivallabh]? Can you bring him here someday?” Balaram said: “Sir, as a man he is good, learned, intelligent, magnanimous, and charitable, but he has misunderstood me on the basis of the reports of others. He is displeased with me only because I come here. Therefore I doubt if he would come here at my request.” The Master then said: “You need not ask him then. Please call Girish here.” Girish came and gladly agreed to bring Harivallabh to the Master, as they had been classmates at school.
The next afternoon Harivallabh came with Girish. The Master greeted him warmly, then touched him and said, “You seem to be my very own.” Then Sri Ramakrishna talked about faith in God, devotion, and self surrender. One of the Master’s disciples began to sing a song, and Sri Ramakrishna gradually went into samadhi. Seeing the loving form and hearing the inspiring words of the Master, Harivallabh was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. At dusk he reverently took the dust of the Master’s feet and left. Thus Sri Ramakrishna changed Harivallabh’s mind and relieved Balaram from further worry and anxiety. (Source: They Lived with God)