פירוש על ברכות 55:12

To R. Eleazar b. 'Azariah and induce him to stand aside in favour of Rabban Gamaliel.

By "sprinkler" is meant the priest who had the duty of purifying one defiled by contact with the dead, by sprinkling him with the ashes of the "red heifer" mingled with running water; cf. Num. xix. For the sense of the enigmatic message, see note 3 above.

I.e. ordinary well-water and common ashes, not the running water and ashes of the red heifer, as required by the Torah.

To convey to him the invitation to resume Office.