SB 11.23.10
tad-avadhyana-visrasta-
punya-skandhasya bhuri-da
artho ’py agacchan nidhanam
bahv-ayasa-parisramah
Translation:
O magnanimous Uddhava, by his neglect of these demigods he depleted his stock of piety and all his wealth. The accumulation of his repeated exhaustive endeavors was totally lost.
Purport:
The brahmana’s stock of piety became like a withered branch that no longer gives fruits or flowers. Srila Jiva Gosvami comments that the brahmana 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.