The correct answer is option 2, Ashoka. The Third Buddhist Council was held during the reign of Ashoka, a powerful Indian emperor who played a crucial role in spreading Buddhism. The council took place in Pataliputra, the capital of Ashoka`s empire, around 250 BCE. It was convened to resolve theoretical disputes and maintain the purity of the Buddhist teachings. The council was presided over by the monk Moggaliputta Tissa and attended by hundreds of Buddhist monks from different parts of India. The major outcome of the council was the compilation and recitation of the Buddhist scriptures, known as the Tripitaka, which helped to standardize the teachings of Buddhism. Ashoka`s patronage of the council demonstrates his dedication to Buddhism and his efforts to promote religious harmony in his empire.