His succession may have been based on the fact that his mother, a daughter of Rao Lunkaran of Bikaner, had been Prithviraj's favourite wife.
[2][note 1] His ascension was controversial and the cause of an internecine dispute among the Kachwahas, a situation which was worsened when neighbouring rulers began taking advantage of the internal conflict.
According to the Akbarnama, Puranmal died in the Battle of Mandrail in 1534, fighting under Humayun's brother Hindal Mirza against Tatar Khan.
This is said to have resulted from the Mughal prince making incursions into the territory of Puranmal's kinsman, Raimal, for whom the Raja died fighting in the Battle of Anaseri.
Yet another version states that Puranmal was overthrown by his brother Bhim Singh, who then seized the throne.