[119] Now at that time a family that supported (upaṭṭhāka) the Venerable Sāriputta sent a boy to the Venerable Sāriputta, saying: "May the Elder give this boy the going forth (pabbājetu)." Then it occurred to the Venerable Sāriputta: "It has been laid down by the Blessed One that one bhikkhu should not have two novices (sāmaṇera) attend upon him; and I already have this novice Rāhula. How, then, should I proceed?" He reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Bhikkhus, I allow a single learned and competent bhikkhu to have two novices attend upon him — or indeed, to have as many attend upon him as he is able to exhort and instruct."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.