Call on God, but row away from the rocks.

This saying is commonly presented in English as an “Indian proverb,” reflecting a broad South Asian (often loosely attributed) tradition of practical religious wisdom: prayer is appropriate, but it does not replace decisive human effort. In collections of proverbs and inspirational anthologies, it is typically framed with a maritime image—someone in danger near rocks—where survival depends on both invoking divine help and taking immediate, competent action. Because it circulates widely in translation and paraphrase, it is difficult to tie to a single original-language text, region, or first printed appearance; it functions more as a proverbial maxim than a traceable quotation.

The proverb argues for a balance between faith and responsibility. “Call on God” acknowledges humility and the human impulse to seek help beyond oneself; “row away from the rocks” insists that prayer is not a substitute for effort, judgment, or timely action. The rocks represent foreseeable hazards—avoidable consequences that come from inattention, denial, or wishful thinking. In effect, the line rejects magical thinking: spiritual reliance is compatible with, and even demands, practical agency. Its enduring appeal lies in how it compresses a moral lesson into a concrete scene—an urgent moment where survival depends on doing what one can while hoping for what one cannot control.

Call on God, but keep on rowing away from the rocks.
Pray to God, but row away from the rocks.
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.