Prankrishna Mukhopadhyay

This is the ninth story in the series on devotees who had a role in the divine play of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna.

- DR. RUCHIRA MITRA

्य्ने्वैष ्वृणुतनेतने् लभ्यः It is attained by him alone whom It chooses (Kathopanishad. 1.2:23)

Frequent visits to Sri Ramakrishna made an affluent devotee dispassionate towards worldly life. One day he told Sri Ramakrishna, “Sir, I am thinking now of giving up my work. One who is involved in activity cannot accomplish anything. (Pointing to his companion) I am training him to do my work. After I resign, he will relieve me. Work has become intolerable.”

Sri Ramakrishna appreciated his attitude but had his reservations. He said, “Yes, work is very troublesome. It is now good for you to meditate on God for a few days in solitude. No doubt you say that you would like to give up your work. Captain said the same thing. Worldly people talk that way; but they don’t succeed in carrying out their intention.”1

This gentleman was Prankrishna Mukhopadhyay. He belonged to an aristocratic family — the Mukhopadhyayas of Janai in Hoogly district — and lived at Shyampukur, an area in the northern part of Calcutta [now Kolkata]. He held a high post in an English business firm. Since he had no offspring by his first wife, with her permission he married a second time. By his second wife he had a son.2 Because he was rather stout, Sri Ramakrishna addressed him endearingly as ‘the fat brahmin’.3