5. [If] a mikveh has three hollows, each containing one log of drawn water, when it is known that forty se’ah of valid water had already fallen into [the mikveh] before they reached the third hollow, it is valid. Otherwise, it is invalid. But R’ Shimon declares it valid, because it is like one mikveh next to another mikveh.

6. [If] one moved mud to the sides, and three lugin [of water] drained out of it, it is valid. [However,] if he removed it, and three lugin drained out of it, it is invalid. But R’ Shimon declares it valid, because he had no intention to draw [the water].

7. [If] one placed jars on a roof to dry them out, and they filled with [rain]water, R’ Eliezer says: If it is a rainy season, [or] if there is a small amount of water in the pit, he can break [the jars]. Otherwise, he cannot break [them]. R’ Yehoshua says: In any case, he can either break [them] or tilt [them], but he may not pour out [the water].

8. [If] a plasterer forgot [his] pot in a cistern and it filled with water, when the water flows over it, [even] a little, he can break [it]. Otherwise, he cannot break [it]. So says R’ Eliezer. R’ Yehoshua says: In either case, he can break [it].

9. [If] one arranged jars in a cistern and they filled with water, although the cistern absorbed [all of] its water, he can break [them].

10. [If] a mikveh consists of forty se’ah of water and mud, R’ Eliezer says: One may immerse [items] in the water but one may not immerse [them] in the mud. R’ Yehoshua says: In [both] the water and the mud. In what mud may one immerse? In mud over which the water flows. [If, however,] the water was on one side, R’ Yehoshua agrees that one may immerse [items] in the water, but one may not immerse [them] in the mud. What [type of] mud were they speaking of? Mud into which a stick sinks on its own accord. So says R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: A place where a measuring stick cannot stand. Abba Elazar ben Dolai says: A place where a plumb bob sinks. R’ Eliezer says: [Such] that falls through the opening of a barrel. R’ Shimon says: [Such] that enters the tube of a waterskin. R’ Eliezer ben Tzaddok says: [Such] that is measured in a log.

1. R’ Yose says: [If there are] two mikvaos, neither of which contains forty se’ah, and a log and a half [of sheuvin] fell into the one, and a log and a half [of sheuvin] fell into the other, and [then] they became mixed, [their waters] are [still] valid, because they were never designated as disqualified. But [if there is] a mikveh that does not contain forty se’ah, and three lugin [of sheuvin] fell into it, and it was [then] divided into two, [the waters remain] disqualified, because they have already been designated as disqualified. But R’ Yehoshua declares them valid, for R’ Yehoshua used to say: Any mikveh not containing forty se’ah, into which three lugin [of sheuvin] fell, and [then] even one kortov was removed, [the water] is valid because it is short of three lugin [of sheuvin]. [But] the Sages say: It is forever in its disqualified state until the full [amount of its original] contents flows out, plus a little more.

2. How so? A cistern in a courtyard, into which three lugin [of sheuvin] fell, is forever in its disqualified state until the full [amount of its original] contents flows out, plus a little more; or until he sets up in the courtyard [a mikveh] of forty se’ah, and the upper [waters] become tahor by the lower ones. [But] R’ Eliezer ben Azaryah declares it invalid, unless he closed it up.

3. [If] a cistern is full of drawn water, and a canal flows into it and out of it, it is forever in its disqualified state, until it is calculated that three lugin of the former [water] do not remain. [If] two [vessels] emptied into a mikveh, one of them a log and a half and the other [also] a log and a half; or [if] one wrings out his garment, and [the water] pours into [the mikveh] from many places; or [if] one pours out of a perforated cup, and [the water] pours into [the mikveh] from many places — R’ Akiva declares it [still] valid, [but] the Sages disqualify it. Said R’ Akiva: They did not say, ‘‘[If vessels] empty,’’ but ‘‘[If a vessel] empties.’’ They said to him: They said neither one nor the other, but ‘‘[A mikveh] into which three lugin [of sheuvin] fell.’’

4. [The waters] from one vessel, from two, or from three combine, but from four they do not combine. [Similarly, regarding] a baal keri who was sick and nine kabin of water fell over him, or a person who was tahor and three lugin of drawn water fell over his head and the greater part of his body — [the waters] from one vessel, from two, or from three combine, [but] from four they do not combine. When are these words said? When the second [vessel] started [emptying] before the first one ceased. And when are these words said? When he had no intention to increase [the mikveh]. But if he intended to increase [it, additions of] even one kortov [at a time] all year long combine to three lugin.