(R. Lazar): Even though Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel argued about Tzaros, they agree that the child [of Tzaras Ervah who married a stranger without Chalitzah] is not a Mamzer;

This is because a Mamzer comes only from a woman forbidden to [the Bo'el] through an Isur Ervah for which there is Kares. (The Halachah does not follow R. Akiva.)

(R. Tarfon): I desire that Tzaras ha'Bas will come to me, and I will marry her to Kehunah [to shows that we follow Beis Hillel]!

They asked R. Yehoshua about the children of Tzaros Ervah [who married without Chalitzah].

R. Yehoshua: You seek to put my head between two great mountains, between Beis Shamai's words and Beis Hillel's words, in order that [children whom I say are Mamzerim will] crush my skull!

[I will not answer directly. However,] I testify about the family of Beis Anuvai from Beis Tzavu'im, and the family of Beis Nekifi from Beis Koshesh, that they were Bnei Tzaros, and their grandchildren were Kohanim Gedolim who served on the Mizbe'ach.

(R. Yakov bar Idi citing R. Yehoshua ben Levi): A case occurred in which Chachamim came to R. Dosa ben Harkinas to ask about Tzaras ha'Bas. They said to him, do you permit Tzaros [Ervah]?

R. Dosa: Did you hear that Dosa ben Harkinas [permits]?

Chachamim: We heard only 'Ben Harkinas'.

R. Dosa: It was my brother Yonasan, the Bechor of the Satan, a Talmidim of Shamai. Beware of him! He has 300 proofs about Tzaras ha'Bas [to permit her].

[Chachamim] went to him. [R. Dosa] sent to [Yonason] and wrote to him 'beware, Chachmei Yisrael are coming to you' (honor them properly). They entered, and he sat them in front of him.

He explained to them [why she is permitted], and they did not understand. He explained to them, and they did not understand. They began to doze;

He said, why are you dozing?! He began to throw pebbles at them [scornfully, to wake them]. Some say that they entered through one gate, and left through three.

He sent to [R. Dosa] 'why did you send to me people who still need to learn from their Rebbi, and you said that they are Chachmei Yisrael?!

They came to [R. Dosa]. They said 'what do you say [about Tzaras ha'Bas]'?

R. Dosa: On this mortar Chagai the Navi sat and testified three matters:

Tzaras ha'Bas may marry to Kehunah (she does not need Chalitzah), in Amon and Mo'av, we separate Ma'aser Oni in Shemitah (the seventh year), and converts from Tarmud may marry into Yisrael (we are not concerned lest they are Mamzerim who come from a union of a Nochri or slave with a Bas Yisrael)

R. Dosa: May my two eyes be lifted (given sight), so I can see Chachmei Yisrael!

He saw R. Yehoshua, and applied to him "Es Mi Yoreh De'ah [...Gemulei me'Chalav Ataikei me'Shadayim" - I remember when his mother used to take his crib to the Beis ha'Keneses, so his ears will cling to Divrei Torah;

He saw R. Akiva, and applied to him "Kefirim Rashu v'Ra'evu" - I recognize that he is mighty in Torah! (In his youth, he was ignorant and poor, and now he does not lack anything.)

He saw R. Elazar ben Azaryah, and applied to him "Na'ar Hayisi Gam Zakanti" - I recognize that he is the 10th generation from Ezra, and his appearance resembles him. (YEFE MAR'EH - the end of the verse "v'Lo Ra'isi... v'Zar'o Mevakesh Lachem") refers to Torah.

(R. Chanina of Tziporin): Also R. Tarfon was with them, and [R. Dosa] applied to him like he said about R. Elazar ben Azaryah.

(Rav Nachman bar Yakov): We accept converts from Karduyin and Tadmurim.

Support (R. Avahu citing R. Yochanan): The Beraisa teaches that converts from Tarmud are Kosher.

(Mishnah): All [blood] stains that come from Rekem are Tehorim.

Inference: [R. Yehudah argues there only about Rekem, but he agrees that] converts from Tarmud are Kosher.

R. Yakov said [the following] teaching. R. Chanina and R. Yehoshua ben Levi - one of them is Machshir [the child of a Nochri or slave who had Bi'ah with a Bas Yisrael], and one of them accepts [converts from Tarmud].

The one who is Machshir [also] accepts (even if someone from Tarmud descends from a Nochri or slave who had Bi'ah with a Bas Yisrael, he is Kosher). The one who accepts is not Machshir (he holds that Bnei Tarmud are Nochrim).

(R. Yosi bei R. Bun citing Rav Nachman bar Yakov): (Bavel is established to have good lineage, for Ezra took all the Pesulim to Eretz Yisrael.) Bavel, for lineage, is until the Zarok River.

(R. Yosi bei R. Bun): Rav and Shmuel [argued about this]. One said until the Zarok River, and the other said until the Vani River.

(R. Yehudah): Between the rivers is like Bavel for lineage.

(R. Chanina Beroka citing R. Yehudah): Bnei Maisha - [Chachamim] were concerned for them only due to Chalalim [but not for Mamzerus], and Kohanim there were not adamant about [not marrying] divorcees.

There (in Bavel) they call Maisha 'Misah' (all are dead, i.e. Mamzerim), Madai is sick (most Cholim live, but a minority die), and Eilam and Gavakai are Goses (most die).

Chavil Yama is the epitome [finest lineage] of Bavel. Avoniya, Gavakiya (this is not Gavakai mentioned above!) and Tzutzriyah are the epitome of Chavil Yama. (We explained this like HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA.)