[177] Then, at the end of that half-month, the Blessed One, having emerged from seclusion, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Why is it, Ānanda, that the Saṅgha of bhikkhus seems so diminished?"
"It is because, venerable sir, the Blessed One gave a talk on the unattractive (asubha) to the bhikkhus in many ways, spoke in praise of the unattractive, spoke in praise of the development of the unattractive, and again and again, with specific reference, spoke in praise of the attainment of the unattractive. And those bhikkhus, venerable sir, [thinking,] 'The Blessed One gives a talk on the unattractive in many ways, speaks in praise of the unattractive, speaks in praise of the development of the unattractive, and again and again, with specific reference, speaks in praise of the attainment of the unattractive,' dwelt devoted to the practice of developing the unattractive in its many various aspects and modes. They became troubled by their own bodies, ashamed of them, and disgusted with them. Just as a woman or a man—young, youthful, fond of adornment, with head freshly washed—would be troubled, ashamed, and disgusted if the carcass of a snake, the carcass of a dog, or the carcass of a human being were hung around the neck, even so those bhikkhus, troubled by their own bodies, ashamed of them, and disgusted with them, deprived themselves of life, deprived one another of life, and, approaching Migalaṇḍika, a sham ascetic (samaṇakuttaka), spoke thus: 'It would be good, friend, if you would deprive us of life; this bowl and robe will be yours.' Then, venerable sir, Migalaṇḍika the sham ascetic, hired with bowls and robes, deprived even one bhikkhu of life in a single day … deprived even sixty bhikkhus of life in a single day. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would declare another method, by which this Saṅgha of bhikkhus might be established in final knowledge (aññā)."
"Well then, Ānanda, assemble in the attendance hall all the bhikkhus who dwell in dependence on Vesālī."
"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One; and having assembled in the attendance hall all the bhikkhus who dwell in dependence on Vesālī, he approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he said this to the Blessed One: "The Saṅgha of bhikkhus has assembled, venerable sir. Let the Blessed One now do what he considers timely."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.