The woodcutter!

Once upon a time, the kingdom of Silbaripuram was ruled by King Vikraman. He made it a point to go hunting at least once a week, as it was his favorite pastime.

On one such hunting expedition, while riding through the dense forest, his attendants lost their way and headed in a different direction. Finding himself all alone, the King began to feel quite anxious.

After wandering through the woods, he eventually reached the edge of the forest and spotted a small hut. Outside the hut stood a simple man named Naanu, who was busy burning bundles of wood to make charcoal. Naanu did not recognize the King, as he had never traveled from the forest to the main towns.

The King approached him and said, "I am very hungry. Could you give me something to eat and drink?"

With a warm smile, Naanu went inside and returned with a bowl of kanji (rice gruel) and chammanthi (chutney). He sat there watching his guest eat with great affection.

"Would you like some more?" Naanu asked. Touched by the man's kindness, the King replied, "I am the King of this land. In return for your generous heart, you may go into the sandalwood grove in this forest and cut as much wood as you like to sell. You no longer need to live in such poverty."

The King then took his leave. From the very next day, Naanu went to the sandalwood grove with his axe. However, he simply brought the sandalwood back, burnt it, and sold it as ordinary charcoal!

Since Naanu never realized that sandalwood fetched a massive price in the market, he continued to live in poverty for the rest of his life.

Moral: Even if you give something precious to those who are ignorant or undeserving, they will waste it without realizing its true value. This is why the proverb says, "Serve the dish according to the vessel" (Give only to those who have the capacity to appreciate it).