(Mishnah): He began to be Mechatei (put blood) and descend. From where does he begin? He begins from the northeast corner, [then] northwest, southwest, southeast. The place where he begins with the Chatas on the outer Mizbe'ach, there he finishes on the inner Mizbe'ach;

R. Eliezer says, he stood in his place and was Mechatei. On all of [the corners] he puts from below to above, except for this in front of him, on which he put from above to below.

(Gemara) Question: [Since he stands in the east,] he should begin from the southeast corner (like on the outer Mizbe'ach)!

Answer (R. Heila): [In the Mikdash, one always goes to his] right. This (the southeast) is not the right. (He left the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim like he entered, facing west. The southeast is to his left.)

Question: He should begin from the northwest corner (which is closest, and then go to his right! Why does he pass by it, to go to the northeast?)

Answer (R. Elazar): "V'Yatza El ha'Mizbe'ach'' (he must totally leave (pass) the Mizbe'ach. We established our Mishnah like R. Yosi, who says that there was one Paroches; he exited the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim and entered the Kodesh in the northwest corner of the Kodesh.)

Question: He could [totally pass the Mizbe'ach on the west, and] begin from the southwest corner!

Answer: He should not turn his back to the Kodesh. (If he walks backwards, facing north, his back is to the Aron, which is in the middle between north and south. If he walks normally, facing south, this is like turning his back to where he left the Kodesh. So it seems to explain based on PNEI MOSHE and SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL above 27a.)

Question: [Even now that he begins from the northeast,] in the end will he not turn his back to the Kodesh?! (After going to the northwest and southwest corners, he must face east to go to the southeast corner!)

Answer: He went backwards (he does not turn his back to the Kodesh.)

Question: He should stand in the south and begin from the southeast corner (SI'ACH YITZCHAK on Tosfos Yeshanim 59a)!

Answer: We can answer like R. Heila - [in the Mikdash, one always goes to his] right. This (going to the south) is not the right (HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA).

(Beraisa - R. Eliezer): He stood in his place and was Mechatei. On all of [the corners] he puts from above to below, except for this in front of him Lochsan (the opposite diagonal), on which he put from below to above. (This is unlike our Mishnah, which says that on all corners he puts from below to above, except for the one in front of him.)

(R. Avahu citing R. Yochanan): Both of them expound one verse, "Saviv''. Rabah hold that he walks around, and R. Liezer holds that [he stands in his place and] goes around [with his hand putting on] the corners. (PNEI MOSHE)

Two Kohanim fled in the sieges [around Yerushalayim]. One said "I stood in my place and I was Mechatei'', and one said "I walked around and I was Mechatei.''

Inference (R. Yudan): One who does like this need not be concerned, and one who does like this need not be concerned.