Markandeya Purana starts with a conversation between sages Jaimini and Markandeya. Sage Jaimini, a disciple of sage Vyas, praises the story of the Mahabharata (महाभारत), written by Sage Vyas, comparing the same to Vishnu among celestials, brahmin among men, a peerless jewel among ornaments, a thunderbolt among weapons and the brain among organs. He makes an eloquous praise of Sage Vyas for his notable literary works. He then approaches Markandeya with questions, or rather doubts as he calls them, that he has after learning the story of the Mahabharata. They are four of them, namely:

• Why did Janardhan (referring to Lord Krishna), the son of Vasudeva, assume the human form for the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe?
• Why did Krishna (referring to Draupadi), the daughter of king Drupada, alone became the queen of the five sons of Pandu?
• How did the highly powerful Balaram, who carries a plough as weapon, atone for the sin of brahmanahatya¹ by visiting holy shrines?
• How did the mighty warriors, sons of Draupadi, though having the Pandavas as lords, die?

Jaimini urged sage Markandeya to clear his doubts on the above questions.

Sage Markandeya, who is described as having been freed from the eighteen shortcomings², replied that it is the time for him to engage in religious rites and therefore not a proper time to describe him the answers in details. He mentioned to Jaimini the names of four birds who could talk just like humans. Those four birds are Drona’s sons and they are named Pingaksha, Vibodha, Suputra and Sanmukha. They are highly intelligent birds and have great knowledge of the scriptures. They live in a cave in the Vindhya mountain. Markandeya asked Jaimini to visit the four birds and ask them about what he seeks to learn.

Perplexed after hearing about birds that can talk like humans, Jaimini enquired further about the birds and their father Drona.

That is when Sage Markandeya related to Jaimini the story of the curse of apsara Vapu. It happened that once Narad muni visited heaven to meet lord Indra and there the lord asked the muni whose dance among the beautiful apsaras Menaka, Urvashi, Rambha, Mishrakeshi, Tilottama, Grhittachi amongst others, would he want to watch. Narad muni uttered that he shall watch the dance of the one who feels that she’s most beautiful and has the best of skills in the art of gracious dancing. After listening to that the apsaras started arguing among themselves as to whom is the most talented.

Therefore, to quench everybody’s arguments, Narad muni offered a challenge that any apsara who is able to distract Sage Durvasa from his strict austerities using her charms, she will be considered the most skillful. The apsaras shook in fear hearing the name of Sage Durvasa. The apsaras said that is an impossible task. However, one apsara named Vapu, was proud to be able to agitate the sages from their austere meditation. She accepted the challenge and replied that wherever Sage Durvasa is, she will go there today and she will make the sage lose control of his meditation like an unskilled charioteer losing control of his chariot.

Saying this, apsara Vapu left for the himalayas where sage Durvasa was immersed in meditation.