One record of the event, in which Padam Singh took part, has been preserved. In 1787 the king of Sīkar, the Rāo Rājā Devī Siṅgh, was annoyed by constant attacks and plunder by Pūranmall Siṅgh of Kāslī and, consequently, the king annexed five villages that belonged to the Kāslī jurisdiction. Padam Siṅgh had been appointed to be in charge of this territory. This was the reason for Pūranmall to begin battle with the ṭhākur of Baṭhoṭh. During the fight with swords and spears, wounded Padam Siṅgh was encircled by Pūranmall and his men and shot from a rifle. As a result, the Rāo Rājā Devī Siṅgh marched with his army to Kāslī and the whole region became subdued to Sīkar. Pūranmall had to escape and take refuge in Mārvāṛ. The fight and the death of Padam Siṅgh has been commemorated in the following poem by an anonymous poet, which presents a typical Rājpūt projection that a warrior can receive salvation mainly by his death in a battlefield:
The poem about ṭhākur Padam Siṅgh, the son of Kīrat Siṅgh of Baṭhoṭh Pāṭodā
गीत ठाकुर पदमसिंघ कीरतसिंघोत बठोठ पटोदा रौ
लागो धरा रौ देवा सूं वेध ऊनागो दुधारो लीधां,
करारो कदम पाछा न धारै कदम |
उधारो वरा रो वूठी हठीसिंघ वाळो सिंघ,
पाथ रूपी आयौ उठि कीता रौ पदंम ||१
उधारी खाटवा राड़ अफारी घड़ां में उभै,
तेग धारी मुंहमेदां हुवा जैतसींघ |
वीजौ रामसिंघ कहै सेवा वीजा सेल बाह,
सेवौ बीजौ कहै वाहि बीजा रामसिंघ ||२
केहरी खिजाया जांण मारकां अनम्मी कंध,
उभे भड़ां जंमी आंटे लागा हिये ऊक |
रोळै आय पूरा तणै पदंमेस झेली रुक,
रोळै पदंमेस तणी झेली पूरै रुक ||३
कमंधां दीवाणां रीझ अरद्दासां जणां करै ,
उजाळा बिरदृां साखां छतीसां उजाळ |
अेक जौ भाराथ जीतै आप रै ठिकांणै आयो,
बीजौ देह भांजि गयौ साजोत विचाळ ||४
With the order of [the king] Devī [Siṅgh, he] took a bare, double-edged sword [and] began revolt for the land,
Strong and fearsome Padam Siṅgh does not take a step back.
The successor [of the ṭhākur of Kāslī], the most eminent son of Haṭhī Siṅgh – [Pūranmall] Siṅgh
has come [and] created the rain [of arrows],
[While] Padam, the son of Kīrti [Siṅgh], appeared in the form of [the archer] Arjuna.
Both of them – recruits in powerful armies,
[These two] warriors-victorious lions, appeared face to face.
The grandson of Rām Siṅgh [i.e. Pūranmall Siṅgh] says – you, the grandson of Śiv [i.e. Padam Siṅgh], attack [with your spear],
Śiv’s grandson replies – you, the grandson of Rām Siṅgh, assault [the first].
Brave [and] never surrendering like furious lions,
Both warriors, with ablaze hearts, began to attack for the sake of the land.
Pūranmall started an assault [and] endured the strike of the Lord Padam’s sword,
The Lord Padam attacked [and] held on the strike of Pūranmall’s brand.
[Rājpūt dynasties of] Rāṭhauṛs, Sisodiyā [and all] people state happily,
[That Padam Siṅgh is] the best of all brilliant, glorious thirty six branches [of the Rājpūt clans].
That one [who] wins fierce battles has come to your territory,
The body of grandson [of Śiv Siṅgh] was extensively wounded [and] during [the fight he received] salvation.