--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Rene Salm wrote:
> > Bhagavaa etadavoca - "idha, mahaaraaja,
> Masc. nom. sg. of eta, it seems, would be eso (Warder p.30).
Here, etad = this (neut. sg. nom/acc.)
Perniola gives some background: "Instead of the neuter form ta.m,
there is sometimes tad when followed by a vowel or in composition:
tad eva.m = that indeed; etad avoca = said such a thing; takkara
(from tad-kara) = doing it.
Hence: The Blessed One said this: "Here, great king,
metta,
Yong Peng