Women in the Mahabharata

Abstract

This work offers a comprehensive analysis of the portrayal of women in the Mahābhārata, examining how female characters navigate morality, sexuality, and societal norms within a patriarchal context. Through detailed studies of figures such as Draupadī, Kuntī, Satyavatī, and others, it interrogates themes of agency, chastity, desire, and power, highlighting the tension between prescriptive morality and lived experience. The chapters trace the evolution of mythic narratives, the negotiation of gender and identity, and the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and succession. By situating these stories within broader discourses on caste, lineage, and social mobility, the work reveals how the Mahābhārata both reflects and challenges traditional conceptions of gender and social order. Ultimately, it argues that the epic’s nuanced treatment of women provides enduring insights into the dynamics of gender, agency, and cultural values across time.