[177] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Codanāvatthu for as long as he pleased, returned once more to Rājagaha. Now at that time, people asked bhikkhus who were walking for alms: "Venerable sirs, which day of the fortnight is it?" The bhikkhus said: "Friends, we do not know." The people complained, criticized, and spread it about: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, do not know even the mere reckoning of the fortnight (pakkhagaṇanā); how then will they know anything else that is good?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow you to learn the reckoning of the fortnight."
Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: "By whom should the reckoning of the fortnight be learned?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow all of you to learn the reckoning of the fortnight."
Now at that time, people asked bhikkhus who were walking for alms: "Venerable sirs, how many bhikkhus are there?" The bhikkhus said: "Friends, we do not know." The people complained, criticized, and spread it about: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, do not even know one another; how then will they know anything else that is good?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow the bhikkhus to be counted."
Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: "When should the bhikkhus be counted?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow you, on the Uposatha day itself, to count by name or to take tickets (salākā)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.