The correct answer is Option 2: James Prinsep.

James Prinsep, a British scholar and antiquarian, was the first person to successfully decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka. Prinsep made significant contributions to the field of epigraphy, or the study of inscriptions, and his work on deciphering the edicts of Emperor Ashoka is considered groundbreaking.

Prinsep began his work on deciphering the edicts of Emperor Ashoka in the early 19th century when he was serving as an Assay Master in the Calcutta Mint. He came across inscriptions written in the Brahmi script, an ancient script used in India, and noticed that they resembled inscriptions found on ancient coins. Through meticulous analysis and comparison with other inscriptions, Prinsep was able to crack the Brahmi script and successfully decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka.

Prinsep`s decipherment of the edicts of Emperor Ashoka provided invaluable insights into the life and teachings of one of India`s greatest rulers. Emperor Ashoka was a Mauryan emperor who ruled over a vast empire in the Indian subcontinent during the 3rd century BCE. His edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars across his empire, provided guidance on moral principles, social welfare, and religious tolerance, and are considered important historical documents.

Prinsep`s work on deciphering the edicts of Emperor Ashoka paved the way for further research and understanding of ancient Indian history and culture. His contributions to epigraphy, particularly in deciphering the Brahmi script, laid the foundation for future scholars and archaeologists to decipher many other inscriptions found in India and neighboring regions.

It`s important to note that while Georg Bühler, Max Muller, and William Jones were notable scholars in their own right, they were not credited with the decipherment of Emperor Ashoka`s edicts. Georg Bühler was a German Indologist who made significant contributions to the study of Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts, but he did not decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka. Max Muller was a renowned British Indologist who translated many ancient Indian texts, but he did not decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka either. William Jones was a British philologist who made significant contributions to the study of Indian languages and literature, but he did not decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka.

In conclusion, James Prinsep was the scholar who first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka. His meticulous analysis and decipherment of the Brahmi script used in the inscriptions provided valuable insights into ancient Indian history and culture, and laid the foundation for further research in the field of epigraphy.