The Gemara discusses a scenario where Rabbi Yehuda was proven wrong, using his own logic against him. The Gemara then quotes three aphorisms, used by people to describe this kind of situation:

Rav Yosef said: This is as people say: In the spoon that the carpenter made, the mustard will burn his palate. In other words, one can be harmed by his own actions. Similarly, in this case the strongest proof against Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion is the one based on Rabbi Yehuda’s own statement.

אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: כַּפָּא דַּחֲטָא נַגָּרָא — בְּגַוַּוהּ נִשְׂרוֹף חַרְדְּלָא.

Abaye said another folk expression: He who made the stocks [saddana] shall sit in the stocks; he is repaid through his own handiwork.

(אָמַר אַבָּיֵי:) סַדָּנָא בְּסַדָּנֵי יְתֵיב — מִדְּוִיל יְדֵיהּ מִשְׁתַּלֵּים.

Rava said another similar saying: He who made the arrows shall be killed with his own arrows; he is repaid through his own handiwork.

רָבָא אָמַר: גִּירָאָה בְּגִירֵיהּ מִקְּטִיל — מִדְּוִיל יְדֵיהּ מִשְׁתַּלֵּים.

What is the point of the Gemara using these three maxims, wouldn’t one be sufficient? I wonder if it might have to do with the fact that Rav Yosef, Abaye and Rava all served as Roshei Yeshiva in Pumbeditha. Each one was a successor of the other (See Rashi Gittin 60b). It also goes from less severe, to more severe, to ultimately fatal (spicy, being imprisoned, and finally pierced by an arrow). Perhaps each one is alluding to the challenges they experienced as Roshei Yeshiva of Pumbeditha, with each successor having more difficulties. As to what these challenges were, we can only guess.  However, one thing is for sure, it is not easy being a public servant.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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