The Bodhisatta, was once a wise hermit living in a hut on the bend of a river. A pilgrim, a clever disputant, came to try and defeat him in debate. However, in answer to his question, the hermit asked him another, and the pilgrim was forced to retire discomfited.
The story was related in reference to a wanderer (paribbājaka) who came to Sāvatthi to debate with the Buddha, but who was forced to own defeat. The two disputants were identical. J.ii.257 f.