Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120
Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation
रेचकः पूरकश्चैव कुंभकः शून्यकस्तथा । एवं चतुर्विधः प्रोक्तः प्राणायामो मनीषिभिः ॥ २० ॥
recakaḥ pūrakaścaiva kuṃbhakaḥ śūnyakastathā | evaṃ caturvidhaḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmo manīṣibhiḥ || 20 ||
呼出（recaka）、吸入（pūraka）、屏息（kuṃbhaka）与空停（śūnyaka）——智者如是宣说：调息（prāṇāyāma）为四分。
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a yogic/disciplinary context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It codifies prāṇāyāma as a precise fourfold discipline, indicating that mastery of breath-regulation is a foundational inner practice for steadiness of mind and progress toward liberation.
While the verse is technical and yogic, it supports bhakti indirectly: regulated breath stabilizes attention and purity, making japa, remembrance of the Lord, and devotional meditation more focused and uninterrupted.
It highlights applied yogic discipline (a śāstric auxiliary practice used alongside dharma and mantra-japa), giving clear operational categories—exhale, inhale, retain, and the empty pause—useful for structured sādhanā.