[If] [the parah adumah] was burned outside of its pyre, or in two pyres, or [if] he burned two [cows] in one pyre, it is invalid.  [If] he sprinkled and did not direct [it] toward the entrance, it is invalid.  [If] he sprinkled from the sixth the seventh, and repeated and sprinkled the seventh, it is disqualified; from the seventh the eighth, and he repeated and sprinkled the eighth, it is valid.

[If] he burned it without wood, or with any wood, even with straw or stubble, it is valid.  [If] he skinned and dismem-bered it, it is valid.  [If] he slaughtered it with the intent to eat from its meat or to drink from its blood, it is valid. R’ Eliezer says: Intent does not invalidate the [red] cow.

All those involved in the parah adumah service from beginning to end contaminate [their] clothing and they invalidate [the parah adumah] by [performing another] task.  If an invalidating circumstance befell [the parah adumah] during its slaughtering, it does not contaminate his clothing. If [the invalidation] occurred during its sprinkling: Whoever participated [in the service] before its invalidation, it contaminates his clothing; [and whoever participated] after its invalidation, it does not contaminate his clothing. It thus emerges that its stringency is its leniency.  It is always subject to me’ilah, until it be-comes ash. And one may add wood to it, and its procedures are performed by day and by a Kohen, [and another] task inval-idates it, until it is made into ash.  And [performing another] task disqualifies the water, until the ashes are placed into it.

[If] someone brings an earthenware vessel [home] for chatas [purposes], he [must] immerse, and spend the night next to the kiln. R’ Yehudah says: He may even bring [a utensil] from [someone’s] home and it is acceptable, for all are trusted with regard to chatas.  And for terumah, he may open the kiln and take [the utensil]. R’ Shimon says: [He may take a utensil] from the second row. R’ Yose says: From the third row.