We may consecrate [mei chatas] in all [types of] vessels, even in dung vessels, stone vessels, and clay vessels. And we may consecrate [mei chatas] in a boat.  We cannot consecrate [mei chatas] in the walls of a vessel, nor in the bottom of a machatz, nor in the cover of a barrel, nor in the palms of one’s hands, because we cannot draw [water for mei chatas], nor consecrate [mei chatas], nor sprinkle mei chatas except with a vessel.  Nothing with a sealed cover protects [its contents from tumah] besides vessels, and nothing is protected from [being rendered tamei in] an earthenware vessel besides vessels.

A potter’s lump [of clay] is qualified. R’ Yose disqualifies [it].  [Regarding] a chicken’s egg, R’ Meir and R’ Yehudah rule it qualified, but the Sages disqualify [it].

[Regarding] a trough [carved] in a rock, we cannot draw [water for mei chatas] from it nor consecrate [mei chatas] in it nor sprinkle [mei chatas] from it and it does not require a sealed cover and it does not disqualify a mikveh. [If] it was a vessel and one attached it [to the ground] with plaster, one may draw [water for mei chatas] from it and consecrate [mei chatas] in it and sprinkle [mei chatas] from it and it requires a sealed cover and it disqualifies a mikveh.  [If] the bottom [of the trough] was perforated and he plugged [the perforation] with a rag, the water inside [the trough] is invalid, because it is not encircled [by] a vessel. [If one perforated the vessel] in its side and plugged [the perforation] with a rag, the water inside it is valid, since it is encircled [by] a vessel.  [If] one made a rim of clay [for the trough] and the water went there, it is invalid. [If the rim] is strong enough that it can be carried with [the trough], [the water] is valid.

[Regarding] two troughs in one boulder, [if] one consecrated [mei chatas in] one of [the troughs], the water in the second [trough] is not consecrated.  [If the troughs] were perforated from one to the other [with a hole] the size of a skin bottle’s tube, or if water was flowing over them even if [only a flow as thin] as a garlic peel, and one consecrated [mei chatas in] one of them, the water in the second [trough] is consecrated.

[Regarding] two rocks that one positioned near each other and made into a trough, and similarly [regarding] two kneading bowls, and similarly [regarding] a trough that split [in two], the water between them is not consecrated. [If] he connected them with lime or gypsum so they can be carried as one, the water between them is consecrated.

[Regarding] someone who was consecrating [mei chatas] and the consecration [ashes] fell on his hand or on the side [of the trough] and afterward fell into the trough, [the consecration] is invalid. [If] they fell from the tube into the trough, [the consecration] is invalid.  [If] he took [ashes] from the tube and he [then] covered [the tube] or closed the door, the consecration [ashes] are valid but the water is invalid.  [If] he stood [the tube] up on the ground, [the ashes] are in-valid; [if he held the tube] in his hand, [the ashes] are valid, because it is possible [to guard them].

[If] the consecration [ashes] were floating on top of the water, R’ Meir and R’ Shimon say: He may take [the ashes] and con-secrate [mei chatas with them]. But the Sages say: Any [ashes] that touched the water, one may not consecrate [mei chatas] with them.  [If] he sprinkled the [consecrated] water, and found consecration [ashes] at the bottom, R’ Meir and R’ Shimon say: He may dry [them] and consecrate [mei chatas with them]. But the Sages say: Any [ashes] that have touched the water, one may not consecrate [mei chatas] with them.

[Regarding] one who is consecrating [mei chatas] in a trough and there is a tefi-bottle in [the trough], even though the mouth [of the tefi-bottle] is extremely narrow, the water within it is consecrated.  If there was a sponge [in the trough], the water within [the sponge] is invalid. What should he do? He should pour out [the water in the trough] until he reaches the sponge. [If] he touched the sponge, even though water is floating above it in any amount, [the water] is invalid.

[If] one positioned his hand or his foot or vegetable leaves so that the water should pass over into the barrel, [the water] is invalid; [if he positioned] reed leaves or walnut leaves, [the water] is valid. This is the general rule: [If it is] something that is susceptible to tumah, [it] is invalid; [if it is] something that is not susceptible to tumah, [it] is valid.

[If] one diverts a spring into the vat of a winepress or into waterholes, [the water] is invalid for zavim, [for] metzoraim, [and] for consecrating it as mei chatas, because it was not filled in a vessel.

[If] five [people] filled five barrels in order to perform five sanctifications, and [then] decided to perform a single sanctifica-tion, or [if they filled the barrels] in order to perform a single sanctification and [then] decided to perform five sanctifica-tions, they are all valid. [If] a single person filled five barrels in order to perform five sanctifications, and [then] decided to perform a single sanctification, only the last one is valid; [if he filled them] in order to perform a single sanctification, and [then] decided to perform five sanctifications, only the first one that he sanctified is valid. [If] he said to someone, “Sanctify these for yourself,” only the first [one] is valid; “Sanctify these for me,” they are all valid.

[If] someone fills with one hand and performs a different activity with his other hand, [or if] he fills for himself and for an-other, or he fills for two [people], simultaneously, both are disqualified, for a different activity invalidates during the filling, whether [it is] for himself or for somebody else.

[If] someone sanctifies [the water] with one hand and performs a different activity with his other hand hand, if it is for him-self, it is disqualified, but if it is for someone else, it is valid. [If] someone sanctifies for himself and for someone else, his is disqualified, but the [water] of the other person is val-id. [If] someone sanctifies [water] for two [people] at once, both are valid.

“Sanctify for me and [then] I will sanctify for you,” the first one is valid. “Fill for me and [then] I will fill for you,” the last one is valid. “Sanctify for me and [then] I will fill for you,” both are valid. “Fill for me and [then] I will sanctify for you,” both are disqualified.