[176] Now at that time, in a certain residence, on that Uposatha day, many bhikkhus were dwelling together, ignorant and incompetent. They did not know the Uposatha, or the Uposatha proceedings, or the Pātimokkha, or the recitation of the Pātimokkha (pātimokkhuddesa). They requested the elder: "Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha." He said this: "Friends, I have not got it." They requested a second elder: "Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha." He too said this: "Friends, I have not got it." They requested a third elder: "Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha." He too said this: "Friends, I have not got it." In this same manner they requested down to the most junior bhikkhu of the Saṅgha (saṅghanavaka): "Let the venerable one recite the Pātimokkha." He too said this: "Venerable sirs, I have not got it." They reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Bhikkhus, here in a certain residence, on that Uposatha day, many bhikkhus are dwelling together, ignorant and incompetent. They do not know the Uposatha, or the Uposatha proceedings, or the Pātimokkha, or the recitation of the Pātimokkha. They request the elder: 'Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha.' He says this: 'Friends, I have not got it.' They request a second elder: 'Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha.' He too says this: 'Friends, I have not got it.' They request a third elder: 'Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha.' He too says this: 'Friends, I have not got it.' In this same manner they request down to the most junior bhikkhu of the Saṅgha: 'Let the venerable one recite the Pātimokkha.' He too says this: 'Venerable sirs, I have not got it.' Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus should at once send one bhikkhu to a neighboring residence, saying: 'Go, friend; having mastered the Pātimokkha, in brief or in full, come back.'"
Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: "Who, then, should be sent?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow an elder bhikkhu to give the order to a junior bhikkhu."
Junior bhikkhus, ordered by the elder, did not go. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, one who is not ill, having been ordered by an elder, must not fail to go. Whoever should not go commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.