Satyavatī

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This chapter explores the life and legacy of Satyavatī, examining her journey from humble origins to queen of Hastināpura and her enduring influence on the Mahābhārata’s dynastic succession. Through her relationships with Parāśara, Vyāsa, Śāntanu, and Bhīṣma, the chapter analyses how Satyavatī negotiates caste, gender, and agency to shape the fate of the Kuru dynasty. The discussion foregrounds her role in succession politics, her exercise of power and renunciation, and her navigation of social mobility and identity. By situating Satyavatī’s story within broader discourses on gender, caste, and succession, the chapter reveals how her agency and decisions reverberate through the epic’s narrative, ultimately influencing the trajectory of the Kuru lineage and the unfolding of the Mahābhārata.</jats:p>