In "Manu Smriti", ten characteristics of religion have been described.
(1) धृति Means satisfaction or patience. A person who wishes to follow the path of religion must have patience. Because the path of religion is very difficult and a person has to face many tests at every step of this path.
(2) क्षमा The fire in a place without grass gets extinguished by itself. Similarly, what damage can a wicked person cause to a person having apology in the form of a sword? A person should return somebody's ingratitude with gratitude.
(3) दम control over mind, supperssion of sense organs.
(4) अस्तेय Means not taking other's things without their permission or not casting an evil eye upon other's things.
(5) शौचम् Means cleaning the body with soil and water. शौचम् means purity. There are two types of purity internal purity and external purity.
(6) इन्द्रियनिग्रह Means countrolling five sense organs such as - eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. A person who wishes to follow the path of spirituality has to control these five sense organs.
(7) बुद्धि Means intellect or scripture. The knowledge of scripture. The intellect has capacity to judge the difference between activities and abstinence from activities, between the worthdoing and not worthdoing tasks, between the fear and fearlessness and between bondage and salvation.
(8) विद्या Means the knowledge of soul. Knowledge shows us what we can not see directly. Knowledge iluminates our life and removes all the doubts.
(9) सत्य Means true and through knowledge which provides happiness to one and all.
(10) अक्रोध Means freedom from anger. Means control over anger even if there is reason for anger.