One of the things that often occupy my thoughtspace is Draupadi. I like calling her Draupadi instead of any other of her names because Draupadi sounds like it has been through hardships and hardened, while Panchaali still has a certain girlishness about it. Draupadi sounds hard, strong, and jagged, angry.
You know, I find Draupadi's decision of not tying her hair after that insult so iconic. Only women who were widowed or otherwise husbandless were allowed to let their hair loose. Married women and girls always kept their hair tied and decorated and scented and neat. So in a way, she sent out a very strong message to her husbands by this. I can elaborate, but I prefer not to, because then that'll spiral into mostly incoherent crippling feels.
And why hair, specifically? Because Dusashan had dragged Panchaali through her chambers into the gaming hall by her hair. Her hair had been corrupted, so to say, by a man who had no right to touch it. Her hair had been a cause of her disgracement. So it will be purified with blood from the same man's chest, and nothing else.
Do you see why I say that Draupadi was fierce and strong and unafraid and focused and my perfect role model?