tad-avadhyāna-visrasta-
puṇya-skandhasya bhūri-da
artho 'py agacchan nidhanaṁ
bahv-āyāsa-pariśramaḥ
tat - of them; avadhyāna - because of his neglect; visrasta - depleted; puṇya - of piety; skandhasya - whose portion; bhūri-da - O magnanimous Uddhava; arthaḥ - the wealth; api - indeed; agacchat nidhanam - became lost; bahu - much; āyāsa - of endeavor; pariśramaḥ - which consisted only of the labor.
The brāhmaṇa’s stock of piety became like a withered branch that no longer gives fruits or flowers. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments that the brāhmaṇa had a trace of piety directed at the Supreme Lord with hopes of liberation. That pure portion of the branch of his piety remained unwithered, eventually giving the fruit of knowledge.