Jaidev: By reciting God’s name continuously can one attain moksha?
Swami Ram Swarup: No, please. Mere recitation of holy name of God cannot possibly lead to the realization of God by an aspirant.In this connection, Samveda mantra 1799 states Oh God! (TURASYA) Destroyer of evils/sinners (TE) your (GIRHA) knowledge of Ved mantras (MRISHEY API NA) I do not give up/ignore (VIDWAN) I am learned and know (ASURYASYA) of your power (NA) do not ignore (SUSHTUTIM) your great praise (VIVAKMI SADA) always chant (Te) your (NAAM) holy name (SVAYASHA) full of true/personal fame.

Jaidev: By reciting God’s name continuously can one attain moksha?
Swami Ram Swarup: No, please. Mere recitation of holy name of God cannot possibly lead to the realization of God by an aspirant.In this connection, Samveda mantra 1799 states Oh God! (TURASYA) Destroyer of evils/sinners (TE) your (GIRHA) knowledge of Ved mantras (MRISHEY API NA) I do not give up/ignore (VIDWAN) I am learned and know (ASURYASYA) of your power (NA) do not ignore (SUSHTUTIM) your great praise (VIVAKMI SADA) always chant (Te) your (NAAM) holy name (SVAYASHA) full of true/personal fame.

Meaning- Oh God! Destroyer of sinners/evils, I do not give up/ignore your knowledge of Ved mantras. I am learned and know of your power. Do not ignore your great praise. I always chant your holy name, full of true/personal fame.

Idea: The God, as stated in the above mantra is “TURASYA” i.e., destroyer of evils/sinners. Secondly His Ved Vanni ‘Girha’ (divine voice of Vedas) has unlimited knowledge right from straw to Almighty God. Third word is “VIDWAN” who does not ignore/give up, the eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates direct from God. And “SUSHTUTIM” word tell us that the vidwan i.e., learned of Vedas never ignores the daily stuti i.e., praise of Almighty God chanting Girha i.e., Ved mantras (divine voice of Vedas). Here, we have to note that since the time of creation, no learned of Vedas has missed even a day without stuti (praise) in the form of performance of holy Yajyen. That is why, he is called Vidwan or learned of Vedas. Now, the idea of the mantra is clear that such vidwan i.e., learned of Vedas who never ignores the eternal knowledge of Vedas, he always chants “Naam” i.e., holy name of God which is full of true/personal fame of Him. I mean to say that mantra clarifies that he is the appropriate learned person to chant the holy name of God (i.e.,
to do the name jaap) who has gained the knowledge of four Vedas traditionally from his acharya, does daily havan and chants Ved mantras to do eternal, divine praise of Almighty God. Problem arises when people do not know about the secret of Vedas and start name jaap (chanting of God’s name) without knowing Ved mantras, praise of God and without knowing the form of God i.e., He is Almighty, independently capable of controlling universe, omnipresent, formless i.e., cannot take birth. He only creates, nurses and destroys the universe and again creates. As stated in Yajurveda mantra 32/1:
“TADEVAGNEESTADAADITYASTADVAYUSTADU CHANDRAMAHA.
TADEV SHUKRAM TAD BRAHMA TA AAPAHA SA PRAJAPATIHI”

The God is formless, one i.e., was one and the same, will remain same in the present and shall also be so in future as well. However, His names are unlimited based on His divine qualities. He is unchangeable, unchallengeable, immortal.

Yajurveda mantra 40/8 states that God is:
SAH PARYAGAAT SHUKRAM AKAYAMAVRANNAMASNAVIRAM SHUDHAMAPAAPVIDHAM

KAVIRMANISHI PARIBHUHU SWAYAMBHURYATHATATHYATOARTHAN VYADADHAAT SHAASHVATIBHYAHA SAMABHYAH

“SHUKRAM” ALMIGHTY,
“AKAYAM” I.E., BODILESS, SO DOES NOT TAKE BIRTH,
“AVRANNAM” HOLESS AND CAN NOT BE CONVERTED INTO ANY PART, SO SOUL IS ALSO NOT A PART OF GOD
“ASNAVIRAM” I.E., WITHOUT NERVOUS SYSTEM ETC.,
“APAAPVIDHAM” SINLESS AND DOES NOT LOVE TO THOSE WHO ARE SINNERS,
“PARI + AGAAT I.E., OMNIPRESENT,
“KAVIHI” OMNISCIENT,
“MANISHIHI” KNOWS THOUGHTS OF EVERY SOUL
“PARIBHUHU” WHO KEEPS BEHIND THE CULPRITS/SINNERS
“SWAYAMBHUHU” WHO IS ETERNAL/BEYOND DEATH AND BIRTH/HAS NO FATHER, MOTHER ETC.,
“SHAASHVATIBHYAHA SAMABHYAH” FOR ETERNAL LIVING BEINGS,
“YATHATATHYATAH” WITH TRUTH,
“ARTHAN” GIVES KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THROUGH VEDAS,
“VYADADHAAT” PREACHES,
“SAH” HE IS GOD.

All Vedas like Yajurveda mantra 31/7 clarify that knowledge of Vedas emanates direct from god at the beginning of universe. so the qualities quoted above in respect of adorable almighty god are also eternal, unchangeable, and true. conclusion of the mantra will automatically state that god never takes birth etc. so avtarvad is not possible please. I also paste an article of mine on avtarvad for your knowledge. As regards karmas Yajurveda mantra 7/48 states that we are free to do pious deeds or sins but result is awarded in happiness or sorrows respectively by god. one must not depend on anybody that somebody will come to give salvation. the dignitaries like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna and Mata Sita etc., did hard deeds without wasting a second. So we must also follow their path to do the hard work towards right path.

He is omniscient, formless, always away from illusion, so cannot be turned into a shape of man/woman, duly indulged in illusion etc. Vedas conclude that until and unless aspirant does not listen to Vedas, does Yajyen with Ved mantras concerning praise of God then how would he love God and His name and why would he concentrate over chanting the holy names of God. He will simply chant but would not get the countless benefits as stated in Vedas. So, we must awake from the illusion and must start listening to Vedas and performing Yajyen daily to gain the real, true eternal knowledge of Vedas, to chant the true name of God as well.

Gautam Kaundinya:Guruji, it is said that we should listen to elders. Should we listen to every elder? I have seen that most of today’s elders have also suffered their lives and they made conclusions out of it, which suited them. To what extent we can accept them?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, to serve the elders is humanity and pious deed which must be continued in our entire life to respect and listen every elder and shower our blessings to the younger. In case of irreligious person who is like a devil, then Vedas tell to leave/ignore the devil immediately and need not to serve him. Vedas tell respect the learned and ignore the devils/sinners only then will the true knowledge of Vedas spread internationally for the benefit of the humanity and promote brotherhood universally. We have only to accept the views of elders, youngsters, etc.,
which are accordance with Vedas i.e., should be pious but we must be alert in case of parents, they are always respect worthy and if they are against Vedas, they are irreligious, speak harshly etc. Then an aspirant can leave/ignore them but parents should not be disrespected.