What happened when Kashiram was attacked by robbers, and did he survive?

Yes, Kashiram survived the attack. According to the account in Chapter 0, while returning from the Naur market, Kashiram was confronted by Bhil robbers. The robbers took some of his belongings, but when they tried to take a small bundle, Kashiram resisted fiercely. This bundle, which the thieves thought contained treasure, actually held powdered sugar for feeding ants. In the ensuing struggle, Kashiram picked up a dropped sword and killed two thieves, but a third struck him on the head with an axe, rendering him unconscious. The robbers left him for dead, but he later regained consciousness and, due to his strong faith, insisted on being taken to Shirdi for recovery.