Literary History of Sanskrit Buddhism

Avadāna – 71
story of Śārdūlakarṇa, was translated into Chinese in 265 A.D. The
contents of this Avadāna noteworthy in many respects, are as
follows:-
Śārdūlakarṇa: Love of the Untouchable
The Master was sojourning in Śrāvastī and Ānanda was wont daily to
repair to the town on his begging round. Once upon a time, as he was
returning from the town, he became thirsty and [met] a caṇḍāla
he to her, “giv
caṇḍāla girl, revered Ānanda.” “Sister,” said Ānanda, “I do not ask
you about your family and your caste, but if you have any water left,
give it to me and I will drink.” (Note that so far the similarity with
Jesus and the Samariitan woman is surprising, John 4, 7 ff., but the
whole course of the narrative further down in the Gospel is so
different that we can scarcely think of any connection between the
Buddhist and Christian Scriptures). The maiden hands him the water
to drink and falls deep in love with the Saint. She tells her mother
that she will die or have Ānanda for her husband. The mother, who
was a powerful witch, prepared a potent philtre and attempted her
sorcery on Ānanda with mantras. The process is described in a way
similar to the incantation in the Kauśikasūtra of the Atharvaveda.
The charm is successful. Ānanda comes into the house of the caṇḍāla
[56] has prepared a bed. But in the moment
of supreme danger, Ānanda breaks out into tears and supplicates the
Buddha in his distress. The latter hastens to his succour with his own
counter mantras. Ānanda leaves the caṇḍāla home and returns to his
monastery. The great witch declares to her unfortunate daughter