After receiving the secret of the king's dream in a night vision, Daniel's immediate reaction is not to seek personal glory or a royal reward. Instead, he takes strategic action to prevent a massacre. He approaches Arioch, the official appointed by the king to execute the wise men of Babylon, asking him to halt the killings and bring him to the royal court.
Choosing to speak with the chief executioner before going directly to the king is driven by several practical and diplomatic motives. The most pressing concern is time; there is a real fear that Arioch might carry out his deadly orders while Daniel is making his way to the king. By intercepting him, Daniel stops the bloodshed at its source [מלבי״ם, יוסף אבן יחיא]. Furthermore, this decision reflects deep political and social awareness. If Daniel were to bypass everyone, solve the dream, and save the day, he would expose the Babylonian wise men as useless, inevitably sparking their jealousy and hatred. By going specifically to the man in charge of their execution and publicly making their rescue his primary goal, Daniel ensures they will view him with gratitude rather than as an arrogant rival [אלשיך]. Additionally, this approach protects Arioch himself. If the executions are delayed without a good reason, the king might turn his anger on the official. By asking to be brought in, Daniel provides Arioch with the opportunity to present the situation as if he personally found the man who can solve the mystery, thereby justifying the delay [מלבי״ם].
When speaking to Arioch, Daniel states that he will provide the solution to the king, notably omitting any mention that he will also recount the dream itself. Some commentators explain this simply as concise speech, since it is naturally understood that offering a solution requires knowing the dream [אבן עזרא]. Others, however, see this omission as an intentional choice. By downplaying the magnitude of the miracle, Daniel avoids further embarrassing the local wise men who had previously declared that no human could possibly know another person's dream [אלשיך]. Ultimately, the commitment to provide the solution carries an underlying promise to reveal the absolute truth. By eventually detailing both the dream and the king's private thoughts, Daniel will prove beyond any doubt that his interpretation is entirely accurate [מלבי״ם].