Meaning of the term Khil used during Gupta period
The term “Khil” was used during the Gupta period in ancient India to refer to a supplementary text or appendix that was added to a larger work. Khils were often attached to literary or religious texts and were intended to provide additional information or commentary on the main text.
Khils were typically written in a different style or language than the main text and were often added at a later time by a different author or editor. They were considered to be secondary to the main text and were not always included in all copies of the work.
One example of a Khil is the “Harivamsa Khila,” which is an appendix to the epic poem, the Mahabharata. The Harivamsa Khila provides additional stories and information about the genealogy of the characters in the Mahabharata, and is written in a different style than the main text.
Overall, Khils were an important feature of ancient Indian literature and were used to provide supplementary information and commentary on a wide range of texts. They allowed authors and editors to add new material to existing works and to provide greater depth and context to the main text.