The text says debating is a bad trait. Why couldn't the author just be told this instead of being publicly humbled before learning about Shraddha and Saburi?

The narrative in Chapter 2 suggests that a simple verbal lesson would have been insufficient to penetrate the author's pride. Hemadpant describes the naming event as a corrective measure to "destroy my pride" and an "ointment" applied to open his eyes, implying his ego was a significant barrier. He came to see the naming as an "ornament" designed so that "the pride of debating should dissolve" and he would "remain aware for life and always be humble." It was only after this profound, ego-dissolving experience that he could truly internalize the core teaching mentioned later in Chapter 2: "Without faith (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi), Not a bit of the spiritual goal is achieved." The humbling was the necessary precursor to genuine understanding.