The representation of women in the Mahabharata as thinkers, advisers, and ethical leaders whose intellectual agency shapes the epic’s moral and political discourse. Focusing on figures such as Draupadi, Kunti, Gandhari, Savitri, and Sulabha, it ex-plores how women question authority, interpret dharma, offer counsel, and influence decisions. Their speeches and actions reveal that wisdom in the epic is not confined to kings, warriors, or male sages, but also emerges through female experience, suffering, courage, and moral reflection. The study argues that these women exercise agency within restrictive social structures by challenging injustice, exposing contradictions, and articulating alternative visions of duty and leadership. Their contributions deep-en the Mahabharata’s exploration of power, responsibility, justice, and ethical choice. The continued relevance of these characters lies in their capacity to inspire contem-porary discussions on gender, leadership, moral reasoning, and the recognition of women as authoritative participants in intellectual and public life.