When his brother Ratansinhji died in 1748, he succeeded him on the throne of Danta as the Maharana.[2][3] He was constantly in trouble with his nobles and vassals.[1][4] To suppress them, he summoned from Baroda a Maratha general named Arjun Rao.[1][4] Arjun arrived in Danta with a hundred horses of Gaekwad to aid him in suppressing insurgents.[1][4] At first, Arjun only managed the state's administration.[1] Over time, however, he claimed all the power and began building a fort for himself.[3] This alarmed Abhaisinhji, who, together with his son Mansinhji, his nobles, and his vassals, drove Arjun out of Danta.[1][4] He was able to achieve this by surrounding the Marathas in a narrow, isolated spot and cutting off all food and water to them.[1] Unable to escape, the Marathas promised that they would abandon Danta and return to their homes.[1] He then lifted the siege, and the Marathas quietly returned home.[1]