Markandaya Rishi was deep in meditation on the Supreme Lord, when Lord Shiva and Parvati happened to fly by. Parvati wanted Lord Shiva to offer the great sage a benediction. Lord Shiva knew he did not need a benediction from him but he came down anyway and they had a wonderful philosophical exchange. This conversation can be found in the Srimad Bhagavatam, eleventh canto.