Mesorat%20hashas for Shevuot 2:3

נִטְמָא בָעֲזָרָה וְנֶעֶלְמָה מִמֶּנּוּ טֻמְאָה וְזָכוּר אֶת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ מִקְדָּשׁ וְזָכוּר לַטֻּמְאָה, נֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ זֶה וָזֶה, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה אוֹ שֶׁשָּׁהָה בִכְדֵי הִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה, בָּא לוֹ בָאֲרֻכָּה, חַיָּב. בַּקְּצָרָה, פָּטוּר. זוֹ הִיא מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁאֵין חַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ:

If one became unclean in the azarah [and knew that he had become unclean], and his uncleanliness became "hidden" from him, and he remembered (that it was) the sanctuary; or if the sanctuary became "hidden" to him, and he remembered his uncleanliness; or if both became hidden from him, and he bowed down [in this interval of hiddenness towards the inside, even if he did not wait], or if he waited the amount of time for bowing down, [i.e., or if he bowed down towards the outside; this, if he waited the amount of time for bowing down, that being the amount of time it takes one to recite the following verse at moderate speed (II Chronicles 7:3): "And they kneeled down with their faces to the ground upon the pavement and prostrated themselves to give thanks to the L rd. For He is good; for His lovingkindness endures forever."]; or if he left the long way, [and not the shorter way, even if he did not wait in the beginning], he is liable. And by the shorter way [when he did not bow down or wait], he is not liable. This is a positive commandment in the sanctuary [(Numbers 5:2): "And they shall send out of the camp … everyone that is unclean"] for which they [beth-din] are not liable [to offer a "bullock of forgetfulness." That is, if they erred in this and instructed him to leave by the longer way, they do not bring for this mistaken ruling a bullock for forgetfulness of the congregation (see Leviticus 4:14)].

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