Rabbi Eliezer says: A <i>revi'it</i> [a specific measure of volume, a quarter of a <i>log</i>] of drawn waters render a <i>mikveh</i> invalid at the outset [i.e. if the waters were in the pit before the valid <i>mikveh</i> waters were added, as do as three <i>log</i> [of drawn waters which were added] on the surface of the [valid] waters. And the Sages say: whether at the outset [before there were any waters in the pit] or at the end [after valid waters amounting to less than forty <i>se'ah</i> were added], the measure [for the minimum amount of drawn waters to invalidate a <i>mikveh</i>] is three <i>log</i>.
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
בתחילה – [at first], there wasn’t any water in the Mikveh/ritual bath at all when a quarter [of a LOG] of drawn water fell into it, and afterwards, its measure was completed with rain water.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Mikvaot
Rabbi Eliezer says: a quarter-log of drawn water in the beginning makes the mikveh invalid, and three logs on the surface of the water. According to Rabbi Eliezer there is a difference a case when drawn water falls into the mikveh before water is in the hole in the ground and after valid water has already been put in. If the drawn water falls in first, then all that has to fall in is a quarter of a log, which is a very small amount (about 125 grams). If the drawn water falls in at the end, on the surface of water that is already there, then there must be three logs to disqualify the mikveh.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
על פני המים – after that there was a great deal of kosher water [in the Mikveh, drawn water fell into it].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Mikvaot
But the sages say: both in the beginning and at the end, the measure [which makes the mikveh invalid] is three logs. The other sages rule more leniently. In either case there must be three logs to disqualify the mikveh.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
וחכמים אומרים – and the Halakha is according to the Sages (and see Tractate Eduyot, Chapter 1, Mishnah 3).
